Removal of Iron and Manganese from Water with a High Organic Carbon Loading. Part I: The Effect of Various Coagulants

Iron and manganese removal from water is considered a routine operation in most potable water treatment plants. However, when there is dissolved organic carbon (DOC) present in the water source, it can significantly influence the success of iron and manganese removal. This investigation focused on the use of two different coagulants, alum and ferrichloride, used in conjunction with hydrogen peroxide as an oxidant, to reduce dissolved iron and manganese in water with a high DOC loading. The two coagulants behaved in a totally different manner during the treatment process, with alum being successful in reducing the iron content in the treated water, and ferrichloride yielding a good removal of the dissolved manganese present. Since these results were only possible in cases where hydrogen peroxide concentrations were also present, it was concluded that treatment with a single reagent would not yield the desired removal of contaminants from this specific water. Both treatment options significantly reduced the DOC levels in the water to below the desired concentration after treatment.