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Titanium dioxide is a white food coloring agent often used in bakery decorations, soups, broths, sauces, spreads, creamers, candy, and chewing gum.

2: Clarification mechanism of coagulant

Chemical coagulation is a process in which chemical agents (coagulants) are added to water treatment to make colloidal dispersion system destabilize and agglomerate. In the coagulation process, small suspended particles and colloidal impurities are aggregated into larger solid particles to separate particulate impurities from water, which is called coagulation clarification.

After adding coagulant into water, colloidal particles and other small particles can be polymerized into larger flocs through the comprehensive action of mixing, coagulation and flocculation. The whole process of coagulation and flocculation is called coagulation.

(1) Destabilization and condensation of colloids

Adding electrolyte to water can compress the electric double layer and destabilize the colloid. The main mechanism is that the electric double layer of colloidal particles in water is compressed or neutralized by adding aluminum salt or iron salt coagulant. The coagulant and raw water are mixed rapidly and evenly, and a series of chemical reactions are produced to destabilize. This process takes a short time, generally about 1 min. Some cationic polymers can also play a role in the destabilization and condensation of colloids in water. These polymers have a long chain structure and positive charge in water. Their destabilization and condensation of colloids in water is due to the interaction of van der Waals force adsorption and electrostatic attraction.

(2) Flocculation and formation of floc (alum)

The particle size of the initial flocculate formed by colloid destabilization and coagulation in water is generally more than 1 m. at this time, Brownian motion can no longer push them to collide and form larger particles. In order to make the initial flocs collide with each other to form large flocs, it is necessary to input additional energy into the water to produce a velocity gradient. Sometimes it is necessary to add organic polymer flocculant into water, and the adsorption bridging effect of long chain molecules of flocculant is used to improve the probability of collision and adhesion. Flocculation efficiency usually increases with the increase of flocculate concentration and flocculation time.

Compared with polyaluminum chloride, polyaluminum chloride has the advantages of high density, fast settling speed and wide pH adaptability; the coagulation effect is less affected by temperature than that of polyaluminum sulfate; however, when adding ferric salt, it should be noted that when the equipment is not in normal operation, the iron ions will make the effluent color, and may pollute the subsequent desalination equipment.

In a study published in 2022 in the journal Particle and Fibre Technology, researchers examined the impact of maternal exposure to titanium dioxide nanoparticles in newborn offspring mice. They found that “a chronic exposure to TiO2 NPs during pregnancy alters the respiratory activity of offspring, characterized by an abnormally elevated rate of breathing.” Breathing was also shown to be “significantly and abnormally accelerated,” and the ability for neural circuitry to effectively adjust breathing rates was impaired. The researchers concluded: “Our findings thus demonstrate that a maternal exposure to TiO2 NPs during pregnancy affects the normal development and operation of the respiratory centers in progeny.”

Where does titanium dioxide come from?