Application of Ferrate for Advanced Water and Wastewater Treatment

Treatment of recalcitrant organics and inorganics present in wastewater is a major challenge. Conventional biological treatments alone are not capable of removing these toxic compounds from wastewater. To overcome these problems, advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) have been used to completely mineralize or transform the organics into simpler compounds, which can then be treated through biological processes. However, conventional AOPs result in the generation of byproducts, which are known to have higher toxicity. Among various AOPs, ferrate has been gaining popularity because of its advantages such as high oxidation potential, no byproduct formation and also non-toxic end products. The end product generated also acts as a coagulant, which thereby enhances the removal efficiency. In the present chapter, the chemical properties, preparation methods and the factors affecting the stability of ferrate were evaluated based on literature. Further, ferrate oxidation as a potential method for the treatment of both organic and inorganic pollutants in drinking and real wastewater is discussed.