Recent studies have indicated that arsenic in drinking water is as hazardous as radon in homes and secondhand tobacco smoke. Arsenic removal during coagulation or Fe–Mn oxidation is examined to aid utilities that desire to improve arsenic removal. Fundamental mechanisms of arsenic removal are discussed, optimization strategies are forwarded, and some new insights are provided to guide future research. Specifically, As(III) removals by coagulation are primarily controlled by coagulant dose and relatively unaffected by solution pH, whereas the converse is true for As(V). When compared on the basis of moles iron or aluminum hydroxide solid formed during coagulation, iron and aluminum coagulants are of demonstrably equal effectiveness in removing As(V) at pH <7.5. However, iron‐based coagulants are advantageous if soluble metal residuals are problematic, if pH is >7.5, or if the raw water contains As(III). Arsenic removal during Fe–Mn oxidation is controlled by the quantity of iron removed [Fe(OH)3 formed] and is relatively independent of the quantity of manganese removed (MnOOH formed).

This work highlighted practical implications of aqueous silica sorption to iron hydroxide in natural and engineered systems. Two types of surfaces were prepared by exposing 10 mg/L preformed Fe(OH)3 to aqueous silica (0-200 mg/L as SiO2) for periods of 1.5 h or 50 days. After 1.5 h, the concentration of iron passing through a 0.45 microm pore size filter at pH 6.0-9.5 was always negligible, but if zeta potential < or =-15 mV as much as 35% of the iron passed through filters after 50 days of aging. When arsenate was added to 10 mg/L iron hydroxide particles equilibrated with aqueous silica for 1.5 h, percentage arsenate removals were high. In contrast, if silica was preequilibrated with iron for 50 days, arsenate removals decreased markedly at higher pH and aqueous silica concentrations. Similar trends were observed for humic substances, although their removal was nearly completely prevented at pH 8.5 at SiO2 concentrations above 50 and 10 mg/L at 1.5 h and 50 days exposure, respectively. The mechanism of interference was hindered sorption to the iron hydroxide surface.

Langmuir‐based semiempirical models are used to predict DOC removal during alum and ferric coagulation. The concentration of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) remaining after enhanced coagulation can be predicted with a standard error of about 10 percent or 0.4 mg/L using a new model with inputs of coagulant dosage, coagulation pH, raw water UV254, and raw water DOC. Total organic carbon remaining after coagulation can be predicted with similar accuracy. The model may also be calibrated to a specific site, improving the standard predictive error to 4 percent or 0.27 mg/L (or ±10 percent for 90 percent confidence). Performance differences between equimolar dosages of alum and ferric coagulants in mediating DOC removal may be attributed to (1) equal or better removal of DOC using ferric at very high coagulant dosages, (2) equal or better removal of DOC using alum at lower coagulant dosages, or (3) differing acidity of coagulants, producing a performance advantage for the more acidic coagulant.

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