Potassium permanganate (KMnO4)
is a strong oxidizing agent that was originally discovered
in 1659. Carus Corporation has been producing permanganate
since 1915. As an oxidizing agent it has the ability to add
oxygen, remove hydrogen or remove electrons from an element
or compound. Potassium permanganate is made up of 1 manganese
atom surrounded by 4 oxygen atoms. The molecular weight of
permanganate is 158.04 g/mol. The diagram below is of a permanganate
tetrahedral.
Potassium permanganate has the ability to “oxidize” soluble manganese and iron
in drinking water to an insoluble manganese dioxide and iron
oxide that can be removed by filtration. If these compounds
were left untreated, they would cause staining of plumbing
fixtures such as toilets, sinks and bath tubs and impart a
bad taste to the water.
Potassium permanganate is recognized by its characteristic purple to pink color when made into a solution. In high concentrations it is a dark purple color.
The picture above demonstrates this color with permanganate concentrations ranging from 0.5 to 100 parts per million (ppm).
CAIROX ® Potassium Permanganate has been used in many
applications over the years from drinking water treatment
to pharmaceutical manufacture. In drinking water treatment,
CAIROX ® is used to oxidize iron, manganese, hydrogen
sulfide, arsenic, to improve taste and odor and is used as
a preoxidant for disinfection by-product control. CAIROX®
can help to produce high quality water and to meet strict
drinking water standards. In pharmaceutical applications it
has been used to oxidize functional groups, such as aromatic
side chains to carboxylic acids, organic sulfides to sulfones
and to produce antibiotics and tranquilizers. |
