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Birm, Pyrolusite, Greensand for Iron and Manganese Removal
After the oxidation step (with or without a Some media such as manganese greensand,
detention or settling tank), the source water is have the ability to both oxidize and filter iron and
filtered through a filter media in either a pressure manganese effectively and at the same time.
vessel or a gravity filter to remove the Manganese greensand, pyrolusite, Birm, or any
iron/manganese/arsenic solids formed in the media coated with manganese dioxide has the
water. The filtration media in these systems capacity to oxidize iron and manganese and
may consist of sand, sand and coal anthracite filter the insoluble precipitates with the filter bed.
These media also have some, but limited,
(dual media), or proprietary/patented products,
capacity for As(III) oxidation and arsenic
such as Pyrolusite Pyrolox, FiloxR, Birm, and
adsorption.
manganese greensand.
Birm
Birm is an acronym that stands for the “Burgess Filter loading rates should be between 9,012,50
Iron Removal Method” (Figure 1). Typical m3/m2 with a bed depth of 0,750,90 meters.
applications have been pointofuse treatment, Birm is not suitable for use with water containing
but it has been used in municipal treatment hydrogen sulfide or organic matter exceeding 45
plants. Birm has the capacity to oxidize iron, but mg/lt. Chlorination greatly reduces Birm’s
is not very effective at oxidizing As(III) to As(V). effectiveness and at high concentrations can
Birm is produced by impregnating manganous deplete the catalytic coating. Polyphosphates
salts to near saturation on aluminum silicate can coat the media, thus reducing its
sand, a base material. The manganous ions effectiveness for iron removal. No chemical
then are oxidized to a solid form of manganese addition or regeneration is required for Birm.
oxide with potassium perman ganate. This Backwash rates should be controlled in the
3 2
process is similar to that used to manufac ture range of 2530 m /m in order to achieve suitable
manganese greensand. The manufacturer bed expan sion of approximately 30% for
indicates that the presence of dissolved oxygen cleaning. An excessively high backwashing rate
is necessary for Birm to function as an oxidizing and air scour should be avoided to minimize
media for iron oxidation. attrition loss. Underdrains may include a gravel
Birm is available in an effective size of 0.48 mm support bed or may be of the gravelless type.
and a specific gravity of 2.0. To be effective, it
must be used in water with a pH range of 6.8
9.0.
Alkalinity should be greater than two times the
combined sulfate and chloride concentration.
Injection of compressed air ahead of the media
to maintain a dissolved oxygen content of at
least 15% of the iron content may be required,
especially for source water with iron at
concentrations greater than 3 mg/l. The
dissolved oxygen oxidizes iron with Birm media Figure 1. Birm material.
serving as a catalyst that enhances the reaction
between dissolved oxygen and dissolved iron
and manganese in the water. Further, formed
ferric hydroxide attracts oxidized arsenic, which
then is captured in the filter bed.
Manganese Greensand
Another media that converts soluble forms of The density of greensand at 85 lb/ft³
iron and manganese to insoluble forms that can considerably lower than pyrolusite, but greater
then be filtered is manganese greensand (Figure than Birm. A vigorous backwash by air scouring
2). Manganese greensand has been used for is recommended. Backwash rates typically are in
several decades and is formed from processed the range of 2530 m³/m² and should be
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1/12/2015 Birm, Pyrolusite, Greensand
glauconite sand. The glauconite is synthetically preceded by an air scour of the media to attain at
coated with a thin layer of manganese dioxide, least 30% bed expansion. A gravel support bed
which gives the dark sand a definite green color with a gravel retaining screen is recommended
and thus its name. Limitations for manganese over the underdrain system. The continuous
greensand include a maximum limit of 5 mg/L of regeneration of greensand using a strong oxi
hydrogen sulfide removal and 15 mg/L for iron dant has two purposes: (1) it reactivates the
removal; also, water pH should be in the range manga nese dioxide on the greensand and (2) it
of 6.28.5 oxidizes Fe(II) and As(III). This allows the newly
The combination of a strong oxidant and formed As(V) and any residual As(V) to adsorb to
manganese greensand filtration media for iron the ferric hydroxide particles, which then are
removal is commonly referred to as the captured in the filter bed. Potassium
“Manganese Greensand Process.” Either permanganate should be fed in the piping far
potassium permanganate or chlorine can be enough ahead of the filter to allow mixing and
used to effectively regenerate manganese contact for several seconds before entering the
greensand filters. However, if chlorine is used filter.
alone, it may be necessary to periodically
regenerate the manganese greensand using
potasium permanganate by a batch process in
order to maintain optimum effectiveness of the
media. Prechlorination is often recommended if
iron levels are significantly greater than 1 mg/L
in order to reduce the need for the more
expensive potassium permanganate.
Manganese greensand is somewhat smaller
than typical filter sand, with an effective size of
0.300.35 mm and a specific gravity of about
2.4.
Figure 2. Manganese greensand material.
Pyrolusite
Pyrolusite is the common name for naturally Maximum hydraulic loading rates of 9,012,50
occurring manganese dioxide and is available in m³/m² should be the basis of design for a
the United States, United Kingdom, South pressure vessel. No chemical regeneration is
America, and Australia. It is dis tributed under required. Backwash is critical for proper
brand names such as Pyrolox, FiloxR and operation. Attrition during backwash can be a
MetalEase. It is a mined ore consisting of 40 to benefit as it exposes more surface sites for
85% manganese dioxide by weight. The various oxidation of soluble iron and manganese. The
configurations of pyrolusite provide extensive density of pyrolusite is in the range of 120 lb/ft³,
surface sites available for oxidation of soluble requiring a backwash rate of 5060 m³/m² to
iron and manganese. Removal rates of iron in fluidize the bed, scrub the media, and
excess of 20 mg/L are achievable. redistribute the media throughout the bed. Air
Pyrolusite is a coarse oxidizing media with a scour and backwashing are recommended in
high specific gravity of about 4.0. Like silica simultaneous mode. If water backwash alone is
sand, pyrolusite is a hard media with small used, air scour prior to backwash is
attrition rates of 23% per year. Pyrolusite may recommended with a water backwash designed
be used in the following two ways: (1) Mixing for 75 m³/m² in order to flu
idize the bed at least
with sand, typically at 10 50% by volume, to 30%. If a gravel support over the underdrain is
combine a filtering media with the oxidizing used, a gravel retaining screen should be
properties of pyrolusite; (2) Installing 100% included in the design. The manufacturer
pyrolusite in a suitably graded filter to provide recommends daily backwashing to maintain the
oxidation and filtration. effectiveness of the media for oxidizing and
removing iron and manganese.
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