Professional Documents
Culture Documents
TO PRECHLORINATION
LE PERMANGANATE DE POTASSIUM, UNE ALTERNATIVE A LA
PRECHLORATION
by KENNETH J . FICEK, manager-Technical Services, M a r k e t i n g D e p a r t m e n t
JOHN E. BOLL, Senior Technical Service Representative, M a r k e t i n g D e p a r t m e n t ,
C a r u s Chemical C o m p a n y , 1500 Eighth Street, L a Salle, Illinois 61301. 815/223-1500
Summary: Significant changes in water treatment practices are now being considered as a result of the passage of the National
Interim Primary Drinking Water Regulations. Potassium permanganate, a strong oxidant. is being investigated in order to define
the role it may play in helping water treatment plant operators meet the new Total Trihalomethane standards.
This paper summarizes some of the currently available laboratory and field data on the use of potassium permanganate as a
substitute for prechlorination. The discussion centers around the relocation of the point of prechlorination to reduce TTHM
concentrations; and the use of permanganate as an alternate oxidant to control taste and odors, oxidize manganese, control algae,
slime and marine growths. and to oxidize THM precursors.
The oxidation of phenol with KMnO, is discussed as a possible explanation for some of the increases in TTHM concentrations
found when permanganate was applied together with free chlorine.
Resume: Des modifications significatives dans les procedes de traitemem de leau sont actuellement A letude depuis le vote du
Reglement national interimaire de leau potable primaire. Le permanganate de potassium, oxydant energique, est etudie en vue de
definir le rBle quil pourrait jouer en aidant les exploitants des stations de traitemem de Ieau a atteindre les nouvelles normes du
trihalomethane total.
Le rapport resume quelques unes des donnees de laboraroire et dexploitation acquises sur Iemploi du permanganate de
potassium comme substitut de la prechloration. La ditcussion e5t centree sur la redefinition du point de prechloration pour require les
teneurs en TTHM, et sur Iemploi du permanganate comme oxydant alternatif pour lutter contre les g o h et odeurs, pour oxyder le
manganese, pour lutter contre les algues. les dep6tc vicqueux et les animaux marins, et pour oxyder les precurseurs du THM.
Loxydation du phenol par KMnO, est discutee comme explication possible de Iaugmentation des teneurs en TTHM constatee
quand le permanganate etait utilise en meme tempc q u e du chloce Itbre.
H ^ ^ ^II
I acid, tartaric acid, and carbon dioxide. (See Fig. 4, 5 . 6 . )
These oxidation products and the ratios are important
because, if indeed humic substances are produced as a result of
I
0154
Fig. 3.
8
t
5
I
404 1 \
00 \ 0 0
0,
20
\ 0
\
I ,
I
1 I 9
2 6 10 14
m KMn0,l m C,H,O m KMn0,l m CH
,O
,
Fig. 5. Fig. 6.
1.2 I
E-
m KMn0,l m CH
,O
, m KMn0,l m CH
,O
,
Figs. 3-6: The composition of the reaction by-products, when phenol; c) formic acid; d) oxalic acid; e) tartaric acid; and
phenol is oxidized by potassium permanganate at different f) carbon dioxide. From V. N. Bobkov. Study of the
ratios of the initial reactants-a) humic substances: b) oxidized Oxidation of Phenol by Potassium Permanganate. (1975).
Manganese oxidation
combination treatments should be studied to achieve the
optimum in quality and economy. The application of permanganate for the oxidation of soluble
In addition to the oxidation of taste- and odor-producing manganese is well documented and widely used. Whether
organic contaminants, KMnO, is being used to solve some of treating surface or ground water, most manganese is
the other previously mentioned problems. A water plant using controlled with permanganate dosages from 0.25 mg/l to 2.5
Lake Michigan water continuously feeds a dosage of 0.25 mg/l mg/l. Chlorine can also be used to oxidize manganese, but the
of KMnO, to the raw water at the intake, which is several miles necessaiy conditions are more critical, and a high pH is usually
from the plant. This low dosage completely controls the slime required.
and algae build-up in the line. Prior to the KMnO, treatment, Research and field work has indicated that the formation of
CI, had been applied to keep the line free of growths (16). trihalomethanes is pH-dependent. As the p H of a water to be
Another case is in Alabama, where KMnO, is added every chlorinated increases, the tendency to produce trihalo-
spring to rid a raw water line of the Asian clam, Corbicula. methanes also increases. I f a pH of greater than nine is
The permanganate, at a dosage of 4 mg/l, is introduced required for the oxidation of manganese by chlorine, the
primarily for taste and odor control at the intake structure, conditions become more favorable for high TTHM formation.
approximately 1 % miles from the treatment plant. Shortly The oxidation of manganese by permanganate is also
after the KMnO, is started every spring, the clams begin to somewhat p H dependent. The reaction rate is faster at higher
slough off and within two to three weeks, the line is free of pHs, but under normal treatment plant conditions (pH 7-8) it
the Corbicula and a corresponding increase in flow rate of is already extremely fast. Therefore, manganese removal with
about 9-10Vo is ,achieved. The superintendent claims that if permanganate oxidation in place of chlorination will minimize
they fed KMnO, at 20 mg/l, he could accomplish the tasks trihalomethane formation, due to the pH change alone.
more quickly, but they would have a problem with the excess This was verified at a plant in West Virginia where these two
residual permanganate in the plant. Similar results (i.c. manganese oxidation techniques were studied (18). In separate
ridding the line of the clam) can be achieved with chlorine, but tests, pretreatment with free chlorine was compared to per-
they prefer permanganate for the taste and odor control (17). manganate oxidation and chlorination just ahead of the filters.
In addition to complete manganese control, the following
TTHM results (See Fig. 7) were obtained:
0155
TTHM Concenirations data strongly indicates that potassium permanganate addition
Range Average should be considered as one of the alternatives t o prechlori-
nation treatment.
Chlorination Only 50-330 ppb 127 ppb
KMnO, & Chlorination 43-82 ppb 56 PPb References
1. USEPA. National Interim Primary Drinking Water
WEST VIRGINIA WATER Regulations. 44 Fed. Reg., 231:141.12 (29 November
COMPARISON O F T T H M FORMATION 1979).
PRE-CI, vs KMnO, FOLLOWED BY CI, 2. DALLAIRE, GENE, assoc. ed. Arecities Doing Enough
to Remove Cancer-Causing Chemicals From Water?,
FINAL T T H M CONCENTRATION Civil Engineering-ASCE. (September 1977), p. 88-94.
DATE PRE-CI, ONLY KMnO, FOLLOWED BY CI, 3. HARMS, L. L., LOOYENGA, R. W. Chlorination
Adjustment to Reduce Chloroform Formation, Journal
11-1 -
American Water Works Association. (Huron, South
11-2 115 ppb Dakota: May 1977), p. 258-263.
11-6 330 4. NORMAN, T. S., HARMS, L. L., LOOYENGA, R. W.
11-8 148 The Use of Chloramines To Prevent Trihalomethane
11-9 130 Formation, JournalAmerican Water WorksAssociation.
11-13 (Huron, South Dakota: March 1980), p. 176-180.
11-16 5. BLANCK, C. A. Trihalomethane Reduction in Oper-
11-17 ating Water Treatment Plants, Journal American Water
I 1-20 Works Association. (September 1979), p. 525-528.
11-21 6. FICEK, K. J. Potassium Permanganate for Iron and
11-21 -
Manganese Removal and Taste and Odor Control. In
1 1-24 90 Water Treatment Plant Design For the Praciicing Engineer.
11-27 86 Sankes, R. L., ed. (Michigan: Ann Arbor Science 1978),
11-28 86 461-479.
11-29 78 7. WELCH, W. A. Potassium Permanganate in Water
11-30 53 Treatment, Journal American Water Works Association.
12-1 78 (Reprint-June 1963), p. 735-741.
12-4 150 8. FLETCHER, W. H. C. In Golden, Colorado-One
12-5 94 Answer to Slime Problems in Coagulation, Water Works
12-6 157 and Wastes Engineering. (March 1965).
12-7 99 9. MUCHMORE, C . B. Algae Control in Water-Supply
12-12 123 Reservoirs, JournalAmerican Water WorksAssociation.
12-13 162 (May 1978). p. 273-279.
AVERAGE 127 ppb 10. STEVENS, A. Personal Communication. U S E P A ,
Cincinnati, Ohio.
Figure 7. 11. Potassium Permanganate Reduces Trihalomethanes,
Public Works. (January 1979), p. 107.
12. SINGER, P . C., BORCHARDT, J . H., COLTHURST,
Conclusion J. M. Effects of Permanganate Pretreatment On Tri-
Test work in the laboratory and the field has now shown that halomethane Formation In Drinking Water. Presented
by relocating the point of prechlorination, or by substituting at 98th Annual Convention, American Water Works
chloramine treatment, TTHMs can be substantially reduced. Association. (June 1979).
By doing so, however, a variety of problems, unrelated to 13. MACK, E. Personal Communication. T h . Goldschmidt
trihalomethanes, may occur. A.G., Mannheim, West Germany (August 1979).
Potassium permanganate, while not the ultimate answer to 14. Personal Communication. Carus Chemical Company.
all of these problems, can be used effectively in combination 15. BOBKOV, V. N . Study of the Oxidation of Phenol by
with other treatment techniques to produce a water, not only Potassium Permanganate. (1975). CA86:215 1511.
low in T T H M concentration, but also free of manganese and 16. Personal Communication.
taste and odor producing compounds. It can also be beneficial 17. Personal Communication.
in controlling algae, slime, and other marine growths. The 18. Personal Communication.
-carus
CHEMICAL COMPANY
Division of Carus Corporation
1 5 0 0 Eighth Street LaSalle Illinois 6 1 3 0 1
Telephone ( 8 1 5 ) 223 1500 Cable Carchemco
Telex 4 0 4 4 5 2
0156