superchlorination and coagulation

industry

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 14, 2026

Quick Summary

Superchlorination and coagulation are key steps in water purification, a process designed to remove contaminants from water for various uses, including drinking. Superchlorination involves adding a higher than usual dose of chlorine to raw water, which helps control bacteria and can react with organic matter. Coagulation follows, where chemicals are introduced to cause small suspended particles to clump together, forming larger masses called floc.1

These processes are crucial for industrial water purification as well, where treated water is essential for manufacturing, processing, and cooling. Without proper purification, industries can face issues like scaling, corrosion, and poor product quality. While superchlorination has been questioned due to potential disinfection by-products, coagulation remains a vital step in settling out impurities before further filtration and disinfection.1

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

2 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

soft drink
Water
…by a process known as superchlorination and coagulation. There the water is exposed for two hours to a high concentration of chlorine and to a flocculant, which removes organisms such as algae and bacteria; it then passes through a sand filter and activated carbon.
Read More
…by a process known as superchlorination and coagulation. There the water is exposed for two hours to a high concentration of chlorine and to a flocculant, which removes organisms such as algae and bacteria; it then passes through a sand filter and activated carbon.
Read More