Sodium permanganate appears as a purplish-colored, crystalline solid. It is non-combustible but accelerates the burning of combustible material and may spontaneously ignite in contact with sulfuric acid.
The growing need for water treatment is expected to drive demand for this oxidizer in North America and Europe. However, several substitutes and their comparatively high costs will limit market growth in these regions.
High Solubility
Sodium permanganate is a purplish-colored, inorganic chemical compound with the formula NaMnO4. This compound readily dissolves in water and produces deep purple solutions. Evaporation of these solutions gives bright purple-black prismatic crystals. The sodium salt is less hygroscopic than its potassium counterpart, KMnO4.
Unlike other oxidants used in water treatment, sodium permanganate does not reduce aquifer permeability. Among the benefits of using sodium permanganate, is its high solubility, which allows quick and easy application in water treatment systems, including for etching plastic parts.
It is a powerful oxidant that degrades phenols, BTEX, and chlorinated ethers. It also effectively removes hydrogen sulfide. Sodium permanganate can be used to control the odor of wastewater and as an effective preservative in food. This compound can also be used as a treatment for soil, as it can degrade phenols, reduce the concentration of iron in aquifers, and improve aquifer geochemistry. This can prevent clogging and reduce the need for costly cleanup at contaminated sites. It can also help restore aquifers impacted by acid mine drainage.
Antimicrobial
Sodium permanganate acts as a powerful oxidant to treat water and eliminate contamination. Its solubility makes it a safe and easy-to-use product that can be fed into monitoring wells without damaging underground utilities or equipment.
It can be used in water treatment to control taste or odor, deactivate harmful pathogens and bacteria, and reduce iron and manganese. It can also be utilized in industrial waste treatment for odor control, toxic pollutant destruction, and bio-augmentation.
Unlike other chemical oxidants, such as hexachlorobenzene and chlorate, sodium permanganate is non-carcinogenic to humans. Despite this, it can be harmful if ingested or comes into contact with the skin. Symptoms of ingestion can include vomiting, diarrhea, and hepatitis. Communication with the skin can cause redness, blisters, and irritation. Those who work with this chemical should follow the appropriate safety procedures. They should also wear protective equipment and avoid contacting it with their eyes or mucous membranes. This is especially important because sodium permanganate can react with these tissues to cause damage.
Antioxidant
As an oxidizer, sodium permanganate works to deactivate harmful pathogens and bacteria. It also carries out some other beneficial functions, such as controlling taste and odor, removing iron and manganese from water, preventing biological growth in treatment plants, and helping to reduce the formation of disinfection byproducts.
Sodium permanganate is available in both 40% and 20% solution forms. The 40% concentration is mainly used in electronics and for synthesizing fine chemicals, including toluene saccharin and refining O-toluene sulfonamide. The 20% solution form is primarily used in water treatment as an etchant for printed circuitry. Still, it is also an effective oxidizer in industrial applications such as wastewater and soil remediation.
CAP Remediation’s liquid permanganate products are easy to use in water treatment applications because they have high aqueous solubility and are ready to be fed without mixing. They are also easier to accurately measure than powdered permanganate.
