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Iron and manganese in ground water
6

Iron and manganese in ground water

Iron and manganese in ground water

(OP)
Has anybody had any dealings with a company in San Francisco called 'World Construction Company'?  I'm wanting information on their ground water filter media high contact oxidation membrane.  Can anybody recommend it?
Thanks, Ross Douglas, New Zealand.

RE: Iron and manganese in ground water

There is a company called ZENON in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada that specializes in membrane technology for water and wastewater treatment

RE: Iron and manganese in ground water

You might also consider chlorine dioxide for manganese removal. Alot of excellent work has been done by Prof Ken Carlson and his PhD student, Dean Gregory, at Colorado State University.

Prof. Bill Knocke at Virginia Tech also has done work in this area.

Geo Clifford White's Handbook of Chlorination and Alternative Disinfectants, Chap 12 (wiley Interscience, New York, 1999) has a discussion of ClO2 for manganese removal, along with pretty good references. Its available from the American Water Works Association Bookstore (www.awwa.org)

AAR

RE: Iron and manganese in ground water

I have.  I was not really impressed. I live in Sydney and had a problem of incredibly high manganese, iron and hydrogen sulphide.  I found a system through this site that is much more cost effective and requires almost no maintenance than suggestions put forward to you and by you.  Let me know if you would like further info.
Regards
Andrew Y

RE: Iron and manganese in ground water

We have completed a lot of work in the removal of iron and manganese from waters in the UK. I can supply operating details and levels of removal if you wish using Natural Charcoal

RE: Iron and manganese in ground water

Since everyone is suggesting alternative technologies, how about chlorination, and/or autocatalytic removal using manganese "greensand"

RE: Iron and manganese in ground water

There is also a biological filter option

RE: Iron and manganese in ground water

3
Removal of iron and/or manganese from groundwater is a tricky and sometimes difficult thing to accomplish, especially if manganese is the primary element. If the iron level is the only problem, you can use several methods; including: oxidation/reduction/filtration (chlorination or KMnO4 used as the oxidant or in rare cases: aeration), ion exchange (be careful using this process for fear of resin fouling, especially if iron bacteria is also present), and catalyst systems with special filter medias that drive the pH up to high levels allowing easy removal of the iron precipitate. The removal of managanese, however, is much more problematic than iron alone. The key to successful Mn removal is proper maintenance of pH levels, contact time, and Fe/Mn ratio. Manganese has a much higher valence atttraction to the water molecule than iron which creates more difficulty when trying to remove it by itself. For oxidation/reduction systems the pH of the water must be usually kept higher than 8.2, sufficient levels and contact time for the oxidant must be provided and, for best results, the Fe/Mn ratio should be at least 5:1 to 10:1. There are so many variables involved that I cannot begin to list them all, the best advice I can render is this: pH levels are critical, contact time and filtration material and filtration rates must be carefully observed, backwash rates must be adequately high enough with adequate time to lift and expand the media to remove all precipitate and, finally, the presence of iron or manganese bacteria will cause severe problems in most systems. Do a complete water analysis before starting any design work and be cautious of using membrane systems except for final polishing, they have a tendency to foul and plug rapidly with precipitate. Good luck, epbpe.

RE: Iron and manganese in ground water

I see you are in New Zealand. I advise that you check the supplier's recommended  application against the characteristics of your ground water. Main areas to compare are:
- is your water quality consistent
-do you have interferring gases such as carbon dioxide or hydrogen sulphide.
-what is your ph range
-what is the iron and manganese level.This is important as some of  the methods suggested such as oxidation will not achieve high removal if iron content is high as the oxidants will tend to react with iron forst leaving the more stable manganese.
- What quantities are you dealing with.
Iam based in New Zealand and my experience so far is that you need pilot tests before you decvide on which method to embark on. You can contact me and we can share notes on selection criteria.

RE: Iron and manganese in ground water

I suggest you first determine how much of the iron & manganese is related to particles in the water.  An environmental lab can filter through a 0.45 micron filter and determine iron & manganese before and after filtration.  In the event that most of these metals are dissolved I recommend you look into using ozone.

RE: Iron and manganese in ground water

Hi to everyone,
Ihave a case concerning water treatment of a small community. It is need to remove the ions of the Iron and Manganese from drinking water, engaging greensand pressure filters method. There are two main water streams, which are gathered in one collection tank that will feed two filters, with the following characteristics:
Total Flow rate      :    70m3/hr
Iron            :    0,4 ~1,4 ppm (depending on season)
Manganese        :    0,01~ 0,02 ppm (depending on season)
pH          :    ~7,5

I have proposed the construction of two pressure filters, working in parallel, with dimensions of: D=2m, H=2m (seem to seem) with filter velocity 11,5 m/hr each, which will be washed and rinsed .
The dosage of the chemicals,  follows as :
Cl2     = 0,85 ppm
KMnO4 = 0,57 ppm

Waiting on your advise accordingly to your experience the best way of monitoring and dosage adjustment of the chemicals, taking into consideration the alteration of the concentration of Iron and Manganese during seasons turns.

Also inform us if the KMnO4 is hazardous for human health when the dosage exceeds its normal rates, due to false adjustment of working personal.

RE: Iron and manganese in ground water

Excess KMnO4 is pretty hard to miss, as its deep purple colour is highly visible at low concentrations.

Seán

www.expertise-limited.co.uk

RE: Iron and manganese in ground water

Thank you for your responce. I was wandering if there is another way to monitor the excess of KMnO4 because my client is very hesitant about using the KMnO4 due to inexpirienced working personal. A
lso have anyone used BIRM with preliminary aeration of water? Is there any background on this technology?
Thank you in advance.

RE: Iron and manganese in ground water

Biological Iron and Manganese removal with preaeration was extensively studied by Anglian Water in the UK, amongst others. They have a fair number of full size plants.

Seán

www.expertise-limited.co.uk

RE: Iron and manganese in ground water

Can Iron and Manganese be reoved by pressure sand filters with sodium hypochlorite injection upstream of it ?
Please respond at the earliest

RE: Iron and manganese in ground water

3000

yes that will work, but depends heavily on the process design.

BobPE

RE: Iron and manganese in ground water

Yes you can use hypochlorite or chlorinse addition as you describe, although you need also to regulate pH to ensure it works.

Seán

www.expertise-limited.co.uk

RE: Iron and manganese in ground water

Hi to everyone,
Some of my competitors proposed the use of just an oxidtation with air and pressure multimedia filtration in order to remove the consentrations of Iron and Manganese.
Total Flow rate  :    70m3/hr
Iron             :    0,4 ~1,4 ppm (depending on season)
Manganese        :    0,01~ 0,02 ppm (depending on season)
pH               :    ~7,5

Have anyone heard about this mehod?

Also can I use just gas-liquid dispersion system "Statiflo" prior to multimedia filter in order to oxideze the Ions and in continuance presipitate them in multimedia filter.

RE: Iron and manganese in ground water

I suggest  use of oxidation of iron and manganese using MnO2 (manganese dioxide),it is an autocatalytic process it is perfect for the removal of the two metals,what is used is standard sand media and manganese dioxide after short time when u have a pH above 7.8 the autocatalytic process will be generated and no reactivation of the filter media will be needed,the use of other oxidation methods such as chlorine and KMnO4 will not be economic and efficient as the autocatalytic process.
hope my reply of a value
if u have further question just ask.

RE: Iron and manganese in ground water

Is there a method for determining the approximate quanity of Chlorine or KMnO4 required to oxidise iron and manganese.

Iron level 47ppm Manganese 4ppm

Also what are the other advantages disadvantages of both


RE: Iron and manganese in ground water

What method of treatment are you using (greensand filtration, aeration/sedimentation/filtration)?  This will have an affect on what chemicals you might want to use.

To answer your question, Chlorine has a Stoichemic dose of 0.63 for Fe and 1.29 for Mn.  KMnO4 has a dose of 0.94 for Fe and 1.92 for Mn.  These doses are the parts of Cl2/KMnO4 needed for 1 part of Fe/Mn.

If you use Cl2 for oxidation of Fe, you will need a total of (47*0.63) or 29.61 mg/l of Cl2.  If KMnO4 is used to oxidize the Mn you will need (4*1.92) or 7.68 mg/l of KMnO4.

My experience has been that Mn is hard to treat; however, when the Fe/Mn ratio is 10:1 or better, the Mn co-precipitates out with the Fe on a relatively easy basis.  I have not had iron levels as high as yours however.

Both will oxidize the metals; however, because of the higher cost for KMnO4, chlorine is more economical to use. It's drawback is the slow precipitation of the Mn.  The KMnO4 has a higher oxidation rate (just a few minutes).  Both may require pH adjustment dependent upon your water characteristics.

Cl2 will precipitate the Mn; but, at your high levels KMnO4 may be needed to make the plant smaller and less costly.  I would plan for it as the costs involved are low (metering pump, storage tank, and mixer).

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