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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Data from two utility surveys led to the development of a simple model for predicting arsenate removal at full‐scale alum coagulation, ferric coagulation, and iron–manganese removal plants. A simplified isotherm is described that can predict the extent of arsenate removal at drinking water utilities practicing coagulation or iron–manganese (Fe–Mn) removal. If all possible sources of particulate iron and aluminum hydroxide present in the system are accounted for, the model predicts arsenic (As) removal to within ±13 percent (90 percent confidence) for Fe coagulation at pH 6.5–8 and alum coagulation at pH < 7.6. Analysis of full‐scale treatment data suggests that colloidal aluminum (Al) flocs with sorbed arsenate [As(V)] may pass through filters, thereby decreasing overall As removal efficiency. Thus, Al solubility and particle stability must be minimized to improve As removal. If stability and solubility of aluminum hydroxide flocs are not a problem, alum and Fe coagulants have nearly equal capacity for sorbing As(V). Survey results also demonstrate the importance of particulate As.

This study evaluated the validity and classification utility of the Conners' Continuous Performance Test (CCPT) in the assessment of inattentive and hyperactive-impulsive behaviors in children. Significant, positive correlations between the CCPT parameters and behavioral ratings of ADHD behaviors were hypothesized. In addition, it was hypothesized that the CCPT parameters would perform better than a random test (chance) and show fair to moderate utility of classification across the different indices. Participants were 104 children between 6 and 12 years of age who were referred for evaluation of attention problems. The first hypothesis was not supported. There were no significant, positive correlations between the CCPT parameters and parent and teacher ratings of inattentive and hyperactive-impulsive behaviors. The second hypothesis was only partially supported. The CCPT Overall Index and the Omission Errors (84th percentile cutoff) performed better than a random test; however, the utility of the CCPT Overall Index only ranged from poor to slight. Receiver operating characteristic analyses showed the accuracy of the CCPT to be low. The implications and limitations of this study and future research directions are discussed.

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