Role of natural red earth in arsenic removal in drinking water - comparison with synthetic gibbsite and goethite

M. Vithanage, R. Chandrajith, R. Weerasooriya

Research output: Chapter in Book/Conference paperChapterpeer-review

9 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Arsenic contamination in drinking water has been recorded as a problem of global concern. This study aims to investigate As retention on goethite and gibbsite as a function of pH with similar site densities of >FeOH and >AlOH of natural red earth (NRE), to ensure that these two will make out the same adsorption as >Fe and >Al sites of NRE. 0.385 μmol/l of arsenite and arsenate were spiked separately to solid suspensions, with adjusted pH from 4.0 to 9.0, and equilibrated for 24 h. Final pH were recorded and supernatant was analysed for As after centrifugation and filtration. Data were modelled using a generalized diffuse layer model. Arsenite adsorption was low for gibbsite (50%) than goethite (<95%) and showed a parabolic behaviour, which was not apparent in NRE. Arsenate adsorption was high (>90%) for both solids and showed no pH dependency. Model calculations were fitted well and the model validation was successful with a variation of >AlOH and >FeOH (10-fold) site concentration on NRE.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationArsenic in Soil and Groundwater Environment Biogeochemical Interactions, Health Effects and Remediation
EditorsProsun Bhattacharya, Arun Mukherjee, Joche Bundschuh, Ron Zevenhoven, Richard Loeppert
Pages587-601
Number of pages15
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2007
Externally publishedYes

Publication series

NameTrace Metals and other Contaminants in the Environment
Volume9
ISSN (Print)1875-1121

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