Modified graphite paper treated by anionic intercalation for manganese removal via electrochemical deposition in water treatment

Effective removal of excess manganese ions (Mn2+) from water is urgently needed to maintain human health and ecological balance. To date, electrochemical deposition (ED) techniques have been widely used for their simplicity and flexibility, while the active surface area and reliability of electrodes are still major issues. Herein, modified graphite papers (MGP) fabricated by the anionic intercalation method were used as the working electrode to remove Mn2+ from wastewater via the electrochemical deposition method. The results showed that the highest removal of Mn2+ by MGP-E was achieved when the voltage was 1.0 V, the deposition time was 6 h, and the pH value of the wastewater was 3.0. Under the above parameters, the removal rate of Mn2+ in simulated wastewater can reach over 99.73 %, while the removal rates in industrial wastewater and groundwater can reach 96.20 % and 99.27 %, respectively, which can meet the standard of water treatment. The related tests confirmed that the deposition process had excellent cycling stability and low energy consumption. This study may provide an economical, sustainable and efficient electrode material for Mn2+ removal from industrial wastewater and groundwater via electrochemical deposition technology.