Manganese Dioxide

Manganese dioxide is a granular type of filter media used in a filter tank to remove iron, manganese, radium, arsenic, and hydrogen sulfide in the tap water. The black to brown-colored substance is a naturally-occurring mineral used in water treatment and other applications, including agricultural pesticides and fungicides, as well as in the production of batteries and beverage cans. The mineral pyrolusite is one of the more popular and commonly used filter media to remove iron and manganese in water supplies.

Manganese dioxide works as a catalyst to improve water quality by removing iron and manganese, and other contaminants in tap water from municipal water supplies and deep well. MnO2 is responsible for the chemical reactions occurring inside the filter system to remove iron, manganese, radium, arsenic, and hydrogen sulfide from the water source. These contaminants precipitate and get absorbed onto the granular filter media containing manganese dioxide.

There are several types of filter media in the water treatment industry that uses MnO2 as a catalyst for the removal of iron and manganese, including Greensand, Birm, Filox, and pyrolusite ore. Reaction and results may vary from one filter media to the other. However, these MnO2 coated filter media are all effective in absorbing contaminants in the water.

MnO2 coated filter media runs best in the right conditions for operations and will last longer if followed thoroughly throughout its years of service. In most cases, the required backwashing for the filter media is 10 to 12 minutes regularly. Backwashing is the key to success when it comes to manganese dioxide coated filter media. The collision of the granular filter media is crucial, as well as the media attrition during the backwashing process.

If used according to its purpose, MnO2 coated filter media will do what it does best. As long as it operates under the right condition, manganese dioxide media will remove and absorb iron and manganese in the water. It is one of the more effective granular types of filter media used in the treatment of drinking water in residential and commercial settings.