Comparative study of flotation techniques for the treatment of liquid effluents.

This work aimed to study the performance of three different induced air flotation units (flotation column, flotation tank and centrifugal flotation in hydrocyclone) for the treatment of a synthetic dairy effluent. Under continuous operation, it was possible to achieve removal efficiencies of milky material in suspension up to 90%, both for the flotation column and the flotation tank units. Using the centrifugal flotation unit in hydrocyclone, it was possible to decrease up to 45% of all suspended material in the effluent, with a clarified flow rate approximately three times greater than those found for the previous flotation units. In the centrifugal flotation unit, better results were obtained for air flow rate-feed flow rate ratios (Q(air)/Q(L)) greater than 0.15, and for underflow-overflow ratios (Qu/Qo) lower than 1.0.