Permanganate is used in industrial wastewater 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.

CAIROX®, AQUOX® and CARUSOL® permanganates are used to control organic and inorganic contaminants and by-products such phenols and other aromatic hydrocarbons, mercaptans, sulfides, chlorinated hydrocarbons, chelated or free metal ions and numerous other compounds. 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.

Aqueous permanganate solutions are applied in 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.

Dosages to control pollutants in a waste stream should be determined through laboratory testing and plant trials. In most cases, no pH adjustment is necessary for permanganate to oxidize the target pollutant and reduce the concentration to acceptable levels.

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 system. Operators should be trained to monitor permanganate residuals and to exercise proper safety precautions when handling the oxidant.