2026 Student Poster Presentation Competition
WQRF and Pentair Water Solutions are hosting current undergraduate and postgraduate students interested in drinking water to participate in a competitive call for posters. Posters will be displayed at the annual Water Quality Association's (WQA) Convention + Expo in Miami, Florida, on April 29 and 30, 2026.
Abstract Submission:
Reagent-Free Regeneration of Manganese Oxide-Coated Media for Contaminant Removal in Small-Scale Drinking Water Systems
Abstract Submission:
Reagent-Free Regeneration of Manganese Oxide-Coated Media for Contaminant Removal in Small-Scale Drinking Water Systems
Ella Niemeyer, Carrie Ellis, Alexandra Russo, and Joseph Goodwill | University of Vermont
Manganese oxide (MnOx)-coated media is commonly used in the removal of soluble manganese (Mn) from drinking water; however, this approach is practically limited by a reliance on chemical reagents for surface regeneration. In point-of-use (POU) systems that lack capacity for chemical storage and dosing, this method may be impractical. Further, MnOx-coated media’s potential to oxidatively degrade organic compounds remains largely unknown. This study investigates an alternative treatment method, the reagent-free electrochemical regeneration of MnOx-coated media for contaminant removal in POU drinking water systems. Here, oxidants are generated in situ by an electrochemical reactor under conditions relevant to drinking water. System performance was tested against representative inorganic and organic contaminants, Mn(II) and bisphenol-A (BPA) respectively. The removal of Mn(II) was characterized by batch-scale experiments under recirculating, intermittent regeneration, and single-pass continuous regeneration conditions. Electrochemically regenerated MnOx-coated media was found to remove ~90% of influent Mn(II), achieving a common treatment goal of 0.02 mg/L. BPA removal efficiency was characterized under single-pass intermittent regeneration conditions, yielding ~60% removal. These findings suggest promising application for the removal of other transition metals and aromatic endocrine disrupting compounds found at concerning concentrations in water sources. The preliminary results highlight the potential of electrochemically regenerated MnOx-coated media for dual adsorptive and oxidative treatment of drinking water in POU systems.
Manganese oxide (MnOx)-coated media is commonly used in the removal of soluble manganese (Mn) from drinking water; however, this approach is practically limited by a reliance on chemical reagents for surface regeneration. In point-of-use (POU) systems that lack capacity for chemical storage and dosing, this method may be impractical. Further, MnOx-coated media’s potential to oxidatively degrade organic compounds remains largely unknown. This study investigates an alternative treatment method, the reagent-free electrochemical regeneration of MnOx-coated media for contaminant removal in POU drinking water systems. Here, oxidants are generated in situ by an electrochemical reactor under conditions relevant to drinking water. System performance was tested against representative inorganic and organic contaminants, Mn(II) and bisphenol-A (BPA) respectively. The removal of Mn(II) was characterized by batch-scale experiments under recirculating, intermittent regeneration, and single-pass continuous regeneration conditions. Electrochemically regenerated MnOx-coated media was found to remove ~90% of influent Mn(II), achieving a common treatment goal of 0.02 mg/L. BPA removal efficiency was characterized under single-pass intermittent regeneration conditions, yielding ~60% removal. These findings suggest promising application for the removal of other transition metals and aromatic endocrine disrupting compounds found at concerning concentrations in water sources. The preliminary results highlight the potential of electrochemically regenerated MnOx-coated media for dual adsorptive and oxidative treatment of drinking water in POU systems.