Efficiency of micro filtration and oxidation on removal of Iron and manganese in ground water and surface water

Abstract

Water resources are becoming increasingly scarce in many areas of the world due to development, and increased demand. Groundwater is the major water resource in the Jaffna peninsula. One of the problems related to groundwater is the presence of ferrous and manganese which may cause taste, odour, colour, or turbidity problems.The objectives of the study were to focus on removal efficiency of iron and manganese, turbidity, color, and bacteriological parameters through oxidation and micro filtration process using low cost methods suitable at domestic level. water samples were collected with problematic locations in Thenmaradchi for iron and manganese and pond water in Thirunelvely, Pasaiyoor and Kurunagar areas for Coliforms and E.Coli. Preliminary tests were conducted to select suitable aeration time and overnight aeration was identified based on the removal efficiency. The iron, manganese, color, turbidity, pH, electrical conductivity, alkalinity, fluoride, sulphate, total phosphate, chloride, nitrates, total Coliforms and E.Coli were tested for raw and treated water samples. The iron removal efficiency through micro filtration alone was varied from l8% to 100% and the manganese removalefficiency was varied from 65% to -100%. Higher percentage of Mn2 was removed by micro filtration compared to Fe2+ . But the removal efficiency for both Fe2+ and Mn2+ was 95% by oxidation and micro filtration process for surface and groundwater. The color and turbidity both reduced due the removal of iron and manganese. The bacteriological removal efficiency, total coli forms and E.Coli was 100%. There were no differences in other water quality parameters. Micro filtration process also reduces the nitrate nitrogen content of the groundwater. But micro filtration could not be used to remove oil and grease. Micro filtration could be introduced for treatment of groundwater and surface water for color, turbidity, iron and manganese and bacteria removal at domestic level.