Operational monitoring for iron removal

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Hi there, we are looking for an inexpensive way to monitor iron removal at a treatment plant in a low-income country.

Can turbidity be used as an indicator, or would colour be better?

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6 Answers

  2. Neither will really measure the iron content. However as colour monitoring is more expensive than turbidity for an on-line monitor and turbidity monitoring is important in its own right I would go for turbidity. In fact in UK some companies have made a similar decision as long as they are sure that oxidation conditions will ensure that all iron is insoluble. 

  3. Hi. You asked about monitoring of iron removal, not about treatment approaches. As always, part of the answer is "it depends". It depends specifically on the nature of treatment plant influent, the complexities of the water chemistry beyond iron, and the form and size of iron particles before and after treatment. An obvious monitoring parameter that I'd try before turbidity or colour is electrical conductivity.

  4. I’m Not a fan of chlorine ... for me in low flow Iron or Algae ... go low tech / low expense ... 55gallon drums of polyfil material at outlet side pump and wash sediment inlet filter with commercial grade scale remover! For bacteria and virus look at making your own MoS2 molybdenum disulfide filter?  

  5. You can oxidize the water with chlorine and KMnO4. 

    The color will improve due to the effective removal of iron.

  6. Turbidity is not going to give you any indication regarding iron bacteria. I have a few suggestions and you are welcome to contact me on my email more@less.co.za with a detailed description of your problem.