Flocculation refers to a process where a soluteIn chemistry, a solution is a homogeneous mixture composed of two or more substances. In such a mixture, a solute is dissolved in another substance, known as a solvent. A common example is a solid, such as salt or sugar, dissolved in water, a liquid. Gases may dissolve in liquids, for example, carbon dioxide or oxygen in water. ...solute comes out of solutionIn chemistry, a solution is a homogeneous mixture composed of two or more substances. In such a mixture, a solute is dissolved in another substance, known as a solvent. A common example is a solid, such as salt or sugar, dissolved in water, a liquid. Gases may dissolve in liquids, for example, carbon dioxide or oxygen in water. Liquids may dissolve in other liquids and gases always ...solution in the form of flocFloc can refer to either: * FLOC (all capital letters) is the abbreviation for the Farm Labor Organizing Committee, a labor union or * Floc is flake of precipitate that comes out of solution during the process of flocculation * FLoC can also mean Federated Logic Conference. * Floc de Gascogne is a sweet apéritif made from a blend of grape juice and Armagnac.floc or "flakes." The term is also used to refer to the process by which fine particulatesParticulates, alternatively referred to as particulate matter (PM), aerosols or fine particles, are tiny particles of solid or liquid suspended in a gas. They range in size from less than 10 nanometres to more than 100 micrometres in diameter. The notation PM10 is used to describe particles of 10 micrometres or less and PM2.5 represents particles less than 2.5 micrometres in aerodynamic diameter; other numeric values may also be used. This range of sizes represent scales from a gathering of a few ...particulates are caused to clump together into floc. The floc may then float to the top of the liquid, settleSettling is the process by which particulates settle to the bottom of a liquid and form a sediment. Settling velocity or fall velocity or terminal velocity (ws) of a (sediment) particle is the rate|rate at which the sediment settles in still fluid. It is diagnostic of grain size, but is also sensitive to the shape (roundness and sphericity) and density of the grains as well as to the viscosity and density of the fluid. It integrates all of these into a key transport parameter. For dilute suspensions, ...settle to the bottom of the liquid, or can be readily filtered:This article is about the separation process. For the mathematical concept see filtration (abstract algebra). For the noun see filter. Filtration is the process of using a filter to mechanically separate a mixture of solids and fluids. Depending on the application, the solid, the fluid, or both may be isolated. Examples of filtration include a coffee filter which separates the coffee grounds from the brewed coffee; the use of consumer water filters to ...filtered from the liquid.

In geologyGeology' (from Greek: γη, ge, "earth"; and λόγος, logos, "knowledge") is the science and study of the solid matter that constitute the Earth. Encompassing such things as rocks, soil, and gemstones, geology studies the composition, structure, physical properties, history, and the processes that shape Earth's components. It is one of the Earth sciences. Geologists have helped establish the age of the Earth at about 4.6 billion (4.6x109) years, and have determined that the Earth's lithosphere, which includes the crust, is fragmented ...geology, flocculation is a condition in which clays, polymers or other small charged particles become attached and form a fragile structureStructure is the way various things are constructed along with the manner of construction of the thing under consideration and the arrangement of its parts. A structure can be a complex entity with many parts.structure, a floc. In dispersed clayClay is a term used to describe a group of hydrous aluminium phyllosilicate (phyllosilicates being a subgroup of silicate minerals) minerals (see clay minerals), that are typically less than 2 μm (micrometres) in diameter. Clay consists of a variety of phyllosilicate minerals rich in silicon and aluminium oxides and hydroxides which include ...clay slurriesA slurry is, in general, a thick suspension of solids in a liquid and may be: * A mixture of water and Bentonite used to make slurry walls * A mixture of wood pulp and water used to make paper * A mixture of water and animal waste used as fertilizer * Meat slurry, a food product * An abrasive substance used in chemical-mechanical polishing, a semiconductor manufacturing process * A mixture of ice crystals, water and freezing point depressant, called slurry ice * A wet-process cement rawmix * Australian slang for a promiscuous ...slurries, flocculation occurs after mechanical agitation ceases and the dispersed clay platelets spontaneously form flocs because of attractions between negative face charges and positive edge charges.

In biology the process is used to refer to the asexual aggregation of microorganisms, most commonly brewing yeast at the end of a brew.

Flocculation & sedimentation is widely employed in the purificationWater purification is the process of removing contaminants from a raw water source. The goal is to produce water for a specific purpose with a treatment profile designed to limit the inclusion of specific materials; most water is purified for human consumption (drinking water). Water purification may also be designed for a variety of other purposes, including to meet the requirements of medical, pharmacology, chemical and industrial applications. Methods include, but are not limited ...purification of drinking waterDrinking water is water that is intended to be ingested by humans. Water of sufficient quality to serve as drinking water is termed potable water whether it is used as such or not. Although many sources are utilized by humans, some contain disease vectors or pathogens and cause long-term health problems if they do not meet certain water quality guidelines. Water that is not harmful ...drinking water as well as sewage treatmentSewage treatment, or domestic wastewater treatment, is the process of removing contaminants from wastewater, both runoff and domestic. It includes physical, chemical and biological processes to remove physical, chemical and biological contaminants. Its objective is to produce a waste stream (or treated effluent) and a solid ...sewage treatment, stormwater treatment and treatment of other industrial wastewater streams.