Dissolved Air Flotation: A Review from the Perspective of System Parameters and Uses in Wastewater Treatment

Abstract

The current issues of climate change and high freshwater demand worldwide have promoted the implementation of wastewater reclamation technologies. This study aims to review the efficiency of the dissolved air flotation (DAF) technique in a wide variety of applications in the agricultural, industrial, domestic, and municipal sectors, which have high freshwater consumption worldwide. We made a systematic review of the DAF technique in wastewater treatment in 2015-2021. We reviewed six indexed databases and governmental statistical reports; we used the keywords: dissolved air flotation, microbubbles, wastewater treatment, and the main operating and design parameters involved in the effectiveness of the flotation process. Additionally, we conducted a review of the most common synthetic coagulant studies used with DAF, as well as natural coagulants that promise to mitigate current climate change. Finally, we discussed advantages, disadvantages, and potential future studies. DAF to have considerable potential for wastewater treatment, as well as for waste utilization. The generation of large quantities of DAF sludge is a breakthrough for clean energy production, as it allows the use of this waste for biogas production.