In this study, Mg-sericite successfully removed N98% of organic/
inorganic substances in brewery wastewater. The removal of organic/
inorganic substances from brewery wastewater using Mg-sericite can
therefore be understood in the general sense as a physical flocculation
process in which materials adhere to the surface of a different material
and accumulate on the surface. Weak forces cause the adhesion, no
chemical bonds are formed and the adhesion is purely physical. This
form of physical flocculation is known as physisorption flocculation.
The flocculated substance forms no chemical bonds with the surface,
but rather adheres by weak van der Waals forces similar to the adhesion.
In particular, specially treated Mg-sericite with highly positive
edges coagulates with negatively charged organic/inorganic matter
by charge neutralization and quickly sediments by flocculating the
Mg-sericite particles and organic/inorganic substances, preferably
using metal salts as bridging systems. The low dose requirement
and high removal effect are distinct advantages of Mg-sericite over
commonly used flocculants