Research Article| June 01 2001 Comparison of physicochemical iron removal mechanisms in filters Saroj K. Sharma; Saroj K. Sharma 1International Institute for Infrastructural, Hydraulic and Environmental Engineering (IHE), PO Box 3015, 2601 DA, Delft, The Netherlands E-mail: roj@ihe.nl Search for other works by this author on: This Site PubMed Google Scholar Joost Kappelhof; Joost Kappelhof 2Kiwa N.V. Research and Consultancy, PO Box 1072, 3430 BB Nieuwegein, The Netherlands Search for other works by this author on: This Site PubMed Google Scholar Martijn Groenendijk; Martijn Groenendijk 3Waterleiding Maatschappij ‘Noord-West-Brabant’ (WNWB), PO Box 3444, 4800 DK Breda, The Netherlands Search for other works by this author on: This Site PubMed Google Scholar Jan C. Schippers; Jan C. Schippers 1International Institute for Infrastructural, Hydraulic and Environmental Engineering (IHE), PO Box 3015, 2601 DA, Delft, The Netherlands Search for other works by this author on: This Site PubMed Google Scholar Jan C. Schippers Jan C. Schippers 2Kiwa N.V. Research and Consultancy, PO Box 1072, 3430 BB Nieuwegein, The Netherlands Search for other works by this author on: This Site PubMed Google Scholar Journal of Water Supply: Research and Technology-Aqua (2001) 50 (4): 187–198. https://doi.org/10.2166/aqua.2001.0017 Views Icon Views Article contents Figures & tables Video Audio Supplementary Data Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Cite Icon Cite Permissions Search Site Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentAll JournalsThis Journal Search Advanced Search Citation Saroj K. Sharma, Joost Kappelhof, Martijn Groenendijk, Jan C. Schippers, Jan C. Schippers; Comparison of physicochemical iron removal mechanisms in filters. Journal of Water Supply: Research and Technology-Aqua 1 June 2001; 50 (4): 187–198. doi: https://doi.org/10.2166/aqua.2001.0017 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Reference Manager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex Water supply companies are continually seeking means to improve the process efficiency of iron removal from groundwater in order to minimize the deposition of iron in distribution networks, backwash water use, and volume of the sludge produced. It is expected that the process efficiency can be optimized with a better understanding of the different mechanisms involved in the iron removal process and their optimal utilization. In order to investigate the options to improve the performance of an iron removal plant, pilot experiments were conducted with filters operating in two different iron removal modes, namely floc filtration and adsorptive filtration. The results were then compared with the performance of the full-scale plant Gilze, which operates mainly in the floc filtration mode. Results demonstrated that the performance of WTP Gilze in terms of ripening time, filter run time and filtrate quality (residual iron and turbidity) could be improved by operating the filters in (a) adsorptive mode with fine sand (0.5–0.8 mm) and low influent oxygen, or (b) in floc filtration mode with dual media (anthracite 0.8–1.2 mm and sand 0.5–0.8 mm). In general, for a single media fine sand filter, the adsorptive mode gave a longer run time than the floc filtration mode with comparable filtrate quality. In the adsorptive mode, oxygen content and pre-oxidation time should be kept as low as possible. However, to ensure sufficient removal of manganese and ammonium present in groundwater, a minimum oxygen concentration is required (about 2 mg l−1 in case of WTP Gilze). Experimental results suggested that filters with coarser single media or dual media operating mainly under adsorptive mode with short pre-oxidation time could further improve filter performance and probably result in significant cost savings. adsorption, filtration, floc filtration, groundwater, iron removal, mechanism This content is only available as a PDF. © IWA Publishing 2001 You do not currently have access to this content.