Industrial Wastewater Treatment

Permanganate is used in industrial wastewater treatment systems to oxidize organic and inorganic pollutants. These pollutants include but are not limited to sulfides, mercaptans, chlorinated solvents (trichloroethylene, perchloroethylene, and vinyl chloride), cyanides, phenols, chelated metals, aldehydes, olefins, organic sulfur compounds, amines, and other oxidizable compounds. Permanganate reacts over a wide pH range and requires no additional catalyst.

These problems can occur during chemical production, in food processing, soil and groundwater remediation, oil refining, mining, pulp and paper production, textile manufacturing, at a wide variety of industrial facilities.

Aqueous permanganate solutions are applied in industrial wastewater treatment systems, usually ahead of the coagulation, settling, or filtration process. Insoluble manganese dioxide (MnO2) is formed as an oxidation by-product and may have to be removed prior to discharge to the sanitary sewer or receiving stream. Laboratory tests are performed to determine the dosage of permanganate necessary to oxidize the target pollutant and reduce the concentration to acceptable levels. In most cases, no pH adjustment is necessary.

Dosages to control pollutants in a particular wastewater stream should be determined through laboratory testing and plant trials.

Proper feed equipment specially designed to handle permanganate is recommended and available from Carus. The product must be put into solution before being introduced into the wastewater system. Operators should be trained to monitor permanganate residuals and to exercise proper safety precautions when handling the oxidant.

Permanganate can completely oxidize phenols and other organic pollutants. It may not be necessary to satisfy the permanganate demand of the wastewater to effectively fragment the organic to a non-toxic, non-hazardous reaction co-product.

The manganese dioxide formed will, by adsorption, assist in removal of many organic and inorganic pollutants for more effective industrial wastewater treatment.

Wilcox, P., Colgan, T., Casting Plant Cuts Phenol Treatment Costs in Half. Carus Chemical Co., Peru, IL (1998). Carus Form #CX 5604

Carus Chemical Company, Industrial Waste Treatment. Carus Form # CX 5505 (1998)

Lee, D., The Oxidation of Organic Compounds by Permanganate and Hexavalent Chrome, Open Court, LaSalle, IL (1981)