Coagulation, flocculation, agglutination and hemagglutination : similar properties?

Abstract

Coagulation, flocculation and agglutination are terms that usually cause confusion. Coagulation is a process of making colloidal matter dispersed/suspended in a liquid to join in a coherent mass. Flocculation is a physical process of contact and adhesions wherein the aggregates form larger-size clusters called flocs being excluded from suspension. These processes have several remarkable applications such as water treatment. The agglutination phenomena can be defined as the linkage of particles or cells in a liquid resulting in formation of clumps. In detail, aggregation/agglutination is the outcome of connections established by agglutinating agents among different components of the particulate materials. Antibodies and lectins, proteins which bind to specific targets (epitopes or carbohydrates, respectively) can be highlighted as agglutinating agents. The interaction can be used to identify microorganisms, proteins and carbohydrates; when agglutination involves erythrocytes, the technique is called hemaglutination. The aim of this chapter is to clarify differences about the important phenomena coagulation, flocculation, agglutination, and hemaglutination; characteristics and applications of molecules and substances able to exert these processes are also discussed.