Enhanced Coagulation with Potassium Ferrate(VI) for Removing Humic Substances

Abstract

Potassium ferrate (K₂FeO₄) has the strongest oxidation strength among all the oxidants/disinfectants practically used for water and wastewater treatment. Apart from this, in the oxidation process, ferrate(VI) ions are reduced to Fe(III) ions or ferric hydroxide, and this simultaneously generates a coagulant in a single dosing and mixing unit process. This paper demonstrates that potassium ferrate can perform better than ferric sulphate at lower doses for treating waters containing humic and fulvic acids in terms of removing UV₂₅₄ absorbance and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and lowering the trihalomethane formation potential (THMFP), indicating that the potassium ferrate is a potential water treatment chemical for "enhanced coagulation."