What are the wastes produced during the coagulation process called?

During the coagulation process in water treatment, various solid particles and impurities are removed from the water. The materials that remain after this treatment phase, which include unreacted coagulants, flocculated particles, and other contaminants, are collectively referred to as residuals. This term encompasses both the physical and chemical by-products that remain after the desired purification process is completed.

Residuals can manifest in different forms and concentrations, typically depending on the effectiveness of the coagulation process and the specific characteristics of the source water. They are important to monitor and manage, as their composition can impact subsequent treatment steps and the overall quality of the treated water.

While terms like sludge, effluents, and settled solids may describe related processes or by-products, they do not encompass the full scope of material generated from coagulation. Sludge specifically refers to the accumulated solids after sedimentation, effluents relate to outflow liquid from a system, and settled solids denote those that have physically settled out, which does not capture the entirety of what residuals imply in this context.