Abstract
In bench-scaled experiments, iron-sulphide minerals, pyrite and pyrrhotite are used as adsorbents for arsenic removal from As-spiked water of As5+ and As3+ species. The adsorption rate, efficiency, As-adsorption stability and the associated pH conditions have been examined. Observations indicate that these iron-sulphide minerals are very efficient to adsorb arsenic from water for both As5+ and As3+ species. Similar to other studies, As3+-adsorption shows a slower rate than As3+. The stability of the adsorbed arsenic seems closety retated to the pH values of the solution. A lower pH levet commonly less than 4.0 is required to protect the adsorbed arsenic from serious oxidation and backward retease. Fining of the mineral powders and shaking of the solution during adsorption enhance the adsorption efficiency and adsorption rate. For practical use of the method presented in this study, the waste produced should be managed with great care to keep it from redistribution over water system. A further study of the protection for the waste from oxidation on real water systems will greatly enhance the application of the strong ability of arsenic adsorption by these minerals, which is observed from this study.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Explore related subjects
Discover the latest articles, news and stories from top researchers in related subjects.Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Pearce, F., Arsenic in tapwater linked to skin cancer, New Scientist, 1993, 30: 5.
Gorby, M. S., Arsenic in human medicine, Arsenic in the Environment, Part II: Human Health and Ecosystem Effects (ed. Nriagu, J. O.), New York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1994,1–8.
Wang, L., Huang, J., Chronic arsenism from drinking water in some areas of Xinjiang, China, in Arsenic in the Environment, Part II: Human Health and Ecosystem Effects, New York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1994,9–16.
Kaiser, J., Toxicologists shed new light on old poisons. Science, 1998, 27: 1850.
Lepkowski, W., Arsenic crisis in Bangladesh, Chemical & Engineering News, Nov. 16, 1988, 27–29.
Gebet, T. W., Arsenic and drinking water contamination. Science, 1999, 283: 1458.
Nickson, R., McArthur, J., Burgess, W. et al., Arsenic poisoning of Bangladesh groundwater, Nature, 1988, 395: 338.
Jacobson, G., Arsenic poisoning from groundwater in Bengal: The worst hydrogeological problem in the world! Cogeoenvironment Newsletter, 1998, 3: 9.
Lepkowski, W., World Bank takes on arsenic poisoning, Chemical & Engineering News, Nov. 9, 1998, 12.
World Health Organization (WHO), Guidetines for drinking water quality, Geneva, Switzerland: WHO Report, 1993.
Hering, J. G., Chen, P. Y., Wilkie, J. A., Arsenic removal from drinking water during coagulation, Journal of Environmental Engineering, 1997, 123(8): 800.
Pande, S. P., Deshpande, L. S., Patni, P. M., Arsenic removal studies in some ground waters of west Bengal, India, Journal of Environmental Science and Health, 1997, A32(7): 1981.
Jeket, M. R., Removal of arsenic in drinking water treatment, In Arsenic in the Environment, Part I: Cycling and Characterization (ed. Nriagn, J. O.), New York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1994, 119–132.
Jones, C. J., Hudson, B. C., McGugan, P. J., The removal of arsenic (V) from acidic solutions. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 1978,2: 333.
McNeill, L. S., Edwards, M., Arsenic removal during precipitative softening. Journal of Environmental Engineering, 1997, 123(5): 453.
Kartinen, E. O. Jr., Martin, C. J., An overview of arsenic removal processes. Desalination, 1995, 103: 79.
Peng, F. F., Di, P., Removal of arsenic from aqueous solution by adsorbing colloid flotation. Industrial Engineering and Chemical Research, 1994, 33: 922.
Darnley, A. G., Bjorklund, A., Bolviken, B. et al., A Global Geochemical Database, Ottowa: UNESCO Publishing, 1995.
Martinez-Frias, J., Mine waste pollutes Mediterranean, Nature, 1997, 388: 120.
Prasad, G., Removal of arsenic (V) from aqueous systems by adsorption onto some geological materials, Arsenic in the Environment, Part I: Cycling and Characterization (ed. Nriagn, J. O.), New York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1994, 133–154.
Cullen, W. R., Reimer, K. J., Arsenic speciation in the environment. Chemical Review, 1989, 89(4): 713.
Mandal, B. K., Chowdhury, T. R., Samanta, G. et al., Arsenic in groundwater in seven districts of West Bengal, India: the biggest arsenic calamity in the world, Current Science, 1996,70: 976.
Mok, W. M., Wai, C. M., Mobilization of arsenic in contaminated river waters, Arsenic in the Environment, Part I: Cycling and Characterization (ed. Nriagn, J. O.), New York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1994,99–117.
Hering, J., Chen, P. Y., Wilkie, J. A. et al., Arsenic removal by ferric chloride, Journal AWWA, 1996, 88(4): 155.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
About this article
Cite this article
Han, J., Fyfe, W.S. Arsenic removal from water by iron-sulphide minerals. Chin. Sci. Bull. 45, 1430–1434 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02886253
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02886253