Abstract
Manganese oxide coatings on sand particles within filtration beds from a water treatment plant in Grampian, Scotland were examined to determine their control on metal mobility. This study first sought to characterise the oxides, notably their mineralogy and metal content, to provide a foundation for studies on the adsorption of dissolved metals from the treated water by the oxides. The oxides were examined by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and analysed by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS). These techniques showed the oxide coatings were amorphous but uniformly distributed over each sand grain. The oxides were selectively removed from the sand grains prior to analysis by AAS using a hydroxylamine hydrochloride selective leaching method. The compositional range of the extracts was 100–150 mg L−1 Mn; 30–55 mg L−1 Fe; 17–56 mg L−1 Ca; 4.6–7.0 mg L−1 Ni; 4.6–6.8 mg L−1 Zn and 1.3–5.7 mg L−1 Mg. When these results are expressed as mg of metal per mg of Mn, the metal content of the oxides is remarkably uniform: 0.25–0.37 mg Fe; 0.14–0.35 mg Ca; 0.035–0.042 mg Ni; 0.035–0.040 mg Zn; 0.01–0.04 mg Mg. The greatest metal concentrations were consistently found in the upper 3 cm of the filtration bed, and these decrease with increasing depth. After the beds are cleaned a more uniform distribution of metals occurs throughout the bed. The metals taken up by the manganese coating are retained over a wide pH range with the exception of Ca and Mg which desorb to a significant extent. The percentage of calcium and magnesium lost from the coating ranges from 30–94%, the amount being dependent on the final pH of the solution. The presence of manganese oxide in the filtration beds appears to be advantageous in terms of removal of transition metals from the treated water.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Carlson, L. and Schwertmann, U. 1987. Iron and manganese oxides in Finnish ground water treatment plants.Water Res.,21, 165–170.
Chao, T.T. 1972. Selective dissolution of manganese oxides from soils and sediments with acidified hydroxylamine hydrochloride.Soil. Sci. Soc. Amer. Proc.,36, 764–768.
Crerar, D.A., Cormich, R.K and Barnes, H.L. 1980. Geochemistry of manganese: an overview. In: Varentsov, I.M. and Grassely, G. (eds), Geology and Geochemistry of Manganese. Vol. l, pp.353–365 E’Schweizerbart’sche Verlag, Stuttgart.
Hab, J. and Davis, P. 1990. Kinetics of manganese (11) oxidation with chlorine.J. Environ. Engng,117(3),359–374.
Hem, J. 1963. Increased oxidation rate of manganese ions in contact with feldspar grains.US Geol. Survey Prof. Paper,475-C, article 116, C216-C217.
Hem, J. 1980. Redox co-precipitation mechanisms of manganese oxides.Advances in Chemistry Series,189, 45–72.
Hem, J. and Lind, C.J. 1987.Reaction Products of Manganese Bearing Waters. Lewis Publishers Inc., Michigan.
Loganathan, P. and Burau, R.G. 1973. Sorption of heavy metal ions by a hydrous manganese oxide.Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta,37, 1277–1293.
Murray, J.W. 1975. The interaction of metal ions at the manganese dioxide-solution interface.Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta,39, 505–519.
Nicholson, K. 1988. Manganese cemented Quaternary gravels: birnessite, lithiophorite and quenselite from an example in Wigtownshire.Scottish J. Geol.,24, 194–200.
Nicholson, K. 1989. Manganese minerals in Scotland.Scottish J. Geol.,25, 125–142.
Nicholson, K. 1992. Contrasting mineralogical-geochemical signatures of manganese oxides: guides to metallogenesis.Econ. Geol.,87, 47–58.
Rae, J.E., Lidiard, H.M. and Parker, A. 1992. Trace-element responsive diseases in the Heasley Mill Area, North Devon, UK: The significance of Mn oxides.Environ. Geochem. Health (this issue).
Zasoski, R.J. and Burau, R.G. 1988. Sorption and sorptive interaction of cadmium and zinc on hydrous manganese oxide.Soil Sci. Soc. Amer. J.,52, 81–87.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Eley, M., Nicholson, K. Chemistry and adsorption-desorption properties of manganese oxides deposited in Forehill Water Treatment Plant, Grampian, Scotland. Environ Geochem Health 15, 85–91 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02627826
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02627826