In this paper, a new kind of inorganic polymeric flocculant (IPF)-polysilicate ferro-aluminum sulfate (PSFA) was adopted to treat banknote printing wastewater. Effects of flocculants dosage on the colour and Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) removal were examined. Experiments revealed that maximal colour removal efficiency of 98% and COD removal efficiency of 85% could be achieved at the optimal dosage of 30.33 g/L And the colour and COD removal results treated by the PSFA flocculant were compared with those treated by aluminum sulfate. Experimental results showed that the most attracting parts of PSFA as compared with that of Al-2(SO4)(3) were: (i) lower COD and colour contained effluents; (ii) less quantity and volume sludge; (iii) better dewatering behaviour and solid-liquid separation flocs; (iv) providing a possibility to eliminate the high labour intensity plate-frame pressure procedure and replace it by ordinary filtration. Therefore. the using of PSFA generally offered a lower cost of operation and maintenance choice to treat banknote printing wastewater as compared to that of Al-2(SO4)(3). (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.