Technological options for the removal of arsenic with special reference to South East Asia

Abstract

Arsenic contamination in ground water, used for drinking purpose, has been envisaged as a problem of global concern. However, arsenic contamination of ground water in parts of South East Asia is assuming greater proportions and posing a serious threat to the health of millions of people. A variety of treatment technologies based on oxidation, co-precipitation, adsorption, ion exchange and membrane process are available for the removal of arsenic from ground water. However, question remains regarding the efficiency and applicability/appropriateness of the technologies, particularly because of low influent arsenic concentration and differences in source water composition. Some of these methods are quite simple, but the disadvantage associated with them is that they produce large amounts of toxic sludge, which needs further treatment before disposal into the environment. Besides, the system must be economically viable and socially acceptable. In this paper an attempt has been made to review and update the recent advances made in the technological development in arsenic removal technologies to explore the potential of those advances to address the problem of arsenic contamination in South East Asia.

A Comparative Study on Removal of Hazardous Anions from Water by Adsorption: A Review

“…Numerous arsenic treatment technologies require pH adjustment and are useful in removing arsenic in the pentavalent state. Thus oxidation is included as a pretreatment to convert As(III) to As(V) [13]. However, the process of coagulation and flocculation produces sludge, which makes it inefficient for As(III) removal [13].…”

Study on the Removal Performance of Natural Manganese Ore and Iron-Oxidizing Bacteria on the Arsenic

“…5,1,2,4,8,12,20,25,30,35, 40 mg/L, after 48 hours' oscillation in the constant temperature oscillator, take out the supernatant after centrifugation and detect the concentration of the As. The adsorption isotherms of As (iii/V) were obtained, as shown in Figure 2 and Figure 3.…”

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