AWWA WQTC71504

The objective of this research was to investigate the interaction between natural organic matter (NOM) and manganese (Mn) and its effect on Mn removal from drinking water. In recently reported literature, there is evidence for the reduction of metal oxides, as well as the dissolution of metals (such as Cu⁺²) adsorbed onto MnO₂, by NOM, adsorption of NOM to MnO₂ surfaces, and formation of metal-NOM complexes. These chemical properties of NOM can exacerbate the Mn removal performance of water treatment plants (WTPs), and thus can make it difficult to achieve Mn treatment goals. In this study, the effect of NOM on Mn removal was investigated through laboratory and full-scale studies. A high performance size exclusion chromatography (HPSEC) method using two different types of HPSEC columns coupled with UV detection was employed to determine the molecular weight distribution of NOM in raw and treated water. The Mn-NOM complexation phenonmenon was investigated by coupling of the HPSEC-UV system with an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS). Includes 13 references, figures.