Researchers at Perm National Research Polytechnic University have unveiled a greener approach to cleaning manganese from water, presenting what they describe as a bio-based purification method. This development was shared with socialbites.ca through the university’s press office, highlighting a notable step toward safer water treatment options.
Manganese reaches waterways through both natural weathering processes and human activities such as mining, industrial discharges, and water treatment byproducts. The substance has a recommended upper limit of 0.1 mg/L in water for public health and environmental protection. When present at higher concentrations, manganese can stunt plant growth and, in humans, has been associated with neurological, reproductive, and respiratory health concerns, underscoring the need for reliable removal strategies in affected systems.
The team, led by biotechnologist Olga Bakhireva with the involvement of student Ksenia Kolykhmatova, from Perm Polytechnic University, developed a biosorbent capable of attracting and binding manganese ions from water. This process effectively lowers the dissolved manganese to safer levels, aligning with regulatory guidelines and protecting aquatic ecosystems as well as human communities dependent on these water sources.
In their experiments, the researchers began by isolating a culture of microorganisms from soil that had been polluted with metals. They then tested these microbes for their resilience to manganese ions, observing how different concentrations impacted crop tolerance and microbial activity. As Bakhireva explained, the team identified a concentration range within which the microbial community could endure elevated manganese levels and continue functioning, providing a basis for the biosorbent’s effectiveness across varied water chemistries.
The proposed filtration material at Perm Polytechnic consists of layered vermiculite, a mineral known for its adsorptive properties, which has been treated with a targeted bacterial composition. Early testing indicated that when this biological layer was integrated with vermiculite, the material retained substantially more manganese than vermiculite alone. The synergy between the mineral substrate and microbial life enhances uptake and retention of manganese ions, offering a potentially robust solution for treating manganese-bearing waters.
The biosorbent created by these scientists represents a promising avenue for removing dissolved manganese from aquatic environments. It holds potential for integration into existing water treatment schemes, enabling more efficient and cost-effective purification of waters that contain manganese as a contaminant. If adopted into practical systems, this approach could complement conventional methods and reduce the reliance on chemical treatments alone, contributing to safer drinking water and healthier ecosystems over the long term.
Further exploration of this technology may reveal its applicability to a wider range of manganese-rich waters and related metal contaminants. As researchers continue to refine the biosorbent’s composition and assess its stability under different environmental conditions, there is optimism about its role in advancing green engineering solutions for water purification and environmental remediation. This line of inquiry reflects ongoing Russian scientific interest in innovative uses of biological materials to support sustainable industry and public health goals, including potential cross-disciplinary applications such as agricultural soil rehabilitation and industrial wastewater management. Attribution: PNIPU press service provided the base update.