Characterization of size, strength and structure of aluminum-polymer dual-coagulant flocs under different pH and hydraulic conditions

•Papermaking sludge was recycled to synthetize a flocculant.•The synthetic polymer was used as aid for AS and PAC.•Effect of pH on dual-coagulant coagulation performances was investigated.•Effects of pH and hydraulic conditions on dual-coagulant flocs were investigated.•Fractal characteristic of dual-coagulant flocs was studied. The objectives of this study are to investigate the impact of papermaking sludge product (LA) on coagulation performance and floc properties under different solution pH and hydraulic conditions. LA was synthetized by grafting acrylamide onto the lignin that contained in papermaking sludge. Characterization of LA, such as FTIR, SEM, zeta potential and molecular weight, showed that target product was obtained successfully. LA was used in combination with aluminum sulfate or polyaluminum chloride, namely Al-LA (Al was dosed firstly) and LA-Al (LA was dosed firstly), in humic acid water treatment. Floc properties and coagulation behaviors of aluminum salts and the dual-coagulants were comparatively evaluated. Results showed that DOC removal was improved by LA at pH 4 ~ 9 and the removal variations caused by different pH were decreased. Flocs formed at pH 5 and pH 8 gave quite large floc size. Floc recoverability declined as initial pH increased. Floc size, growth rate and recoverability were in the order of Al-LA>LA-Al>Al. Furthermore, flocs formed at pH 7 showed the weakest resistance to increasing shear force. Fractal dimension was rather high at pH 7 and 8 and it was in the following order: Al>LA-Al>Al-LA.