Stabilization of potassium permanganate particles with manganese dioxide

A new potassium permanganate reagent with slow-release properties was designed and tested for possible application in in situ chemical oxidation. For this purpose, MnO₂-coated KMnO₄ particles (MCP) were prepared by partial reduction of solid KMnO₄ using the acid-catalyzed reaction with n-propanol or the comproportionation of Mn(VII) and Mn(II) in n-propanol as reaction medium. Column tests showed that, for MCP with a residual KMnO₄ fraction of 70 wt%, the duration of permanganate release under flow-through conditions was prolonged by a factor of 10 compared to untreated KMnO₄. While KMnO₄ is too soluble to be used in reactive barriers, MCP could be introduced into the aquifer by filling of trenches or boreholes; this would allow a prolonged passive dosing of permanganate into the flowing groundwater. In addition, experiments were conducted in order to determine the oxidation capability of native KMnO₄ particles and MCP in CH₂Cl₂, a representative non-polar non-aqueous phase liquid (NAPL). It may be possible to utilize the significantly higher reactivity of MCP under these conditions for the design of slow-release permanganate particles for NAPL source treatment.