How does dissolved air flotation improve water quality

How DAF Works

The process begins by dissolving air into water under pressure, then releasing it to create microbubbles that attach to impurities.

Air is dissolved into water under elevated pressure

Pressure release creates microscopic bubbles

Bubbles attach to pollutants forming aggregates

Aggregates rise to surface and are skimmed off

Microbubble Formation
Dissolving air into water under elevated pressure allows full integration with the water matrix. When pressure is released, the dissolved air emerges as tiny microbubbles with large specific surface area and strong buoyancy.
Enhanced Pollutant Contact
Unlike larger bubbles that rise rapidly, microbubbles disperse evenly and linger longer in water, maximizing interaction with impurities including fine suspended particles, colloids, and organic matter.
Pollutant Attachment
Hydrophobic pollutants readily attach to bubble surfaces. For hydrophilic pollutants, flocculants modify surface properties to promote attachment, forming bubble-pollutant aggregates less dense than water.
Efficient Separation
Aggregates rise steadily to form a stable foam layer that is easily skimmed off, effectively removing contaminants and significantly improving water clarity while reducing turbidity.
Water Quality Improvement
By eliminating impurities, DAF reduces concentrations of organic and inorganic pollutants, decreases load on subsequent treatment stages, and ensures water meets quality standards for various applications.

Effectively removes suspended solids and colloidal particles that cause turbidity and cloudiness in water.

Targets a wide range of pollutants including fine particles, organic matter, oils, and greases.

Reduces load on subsequent treatment stages, improving overall system performance and cost-effectiveness.