What is a common treatment for iron and manganese removal?

Chemical oxidation is a widely used treatment method for the removal of iron and manganese from drinking water. This process involves the introduction of an oxidizing agent that converts dissolved ferrous iron (Fe²⁺) and manganese (Mn²⁺) into their oxidized forms—ferric iron (Fe³⁺) and manganese oxides (MnO₂), which are not soluble in water. Once these metals are oxidized, they can precipitate out of solution and can be effectively removed through processes like filtration.

This method is advantageous because it is effective even at low concentrations of iron and manganese, and it can be tailored to treat various levels of these elements in water. Common oxidizing agents used for this process include chlorine, potassium permanganate, and ozone.

While the other methods listed have roles in water treatment, they do not target iron and manganese removal as effectively or are not commonly used for this specific purpose. Ozonation is more for disinfection and taste/odor control, reverse osmosis is primarily used for desalination and removing a wide range of contaminants, and activated carbon filtration is focused on organic compounds and chlorine rather than specifically addressing iron and manganese issues.