Development and regeneration of composite of cationic gel and iron hydroxide for adsorbing arsenic from ground water

Revolutionizing wastewater treatment: A review on the role of advanced functional bio-based hydrogels

Water contamination poses a significant challenge to environmental and public health, necessitating sustainable wastewater treatment solutions. Adsorption is one of the most widely used techniques for purifying water, as it effectively removes contaminants by transferring them from the liquid phase to a solid surface. Bio-based hydrogel adsorbents are gaining popularity in wastewater treatment due to their versatility in fabrication and modification methods, which include blending, grafting, and crosslinking. Owning to their unique structure and large surface area, modified hydrogels containing reactive groups like amino, hydroxyl, and carboxyl, or functionalized hydrogels with inorganic nanoparticles particularly graphene nanomaterials, have demonstrated promising adsorption capabilities for both inorganic and organic contaminants. Bio-based hydrogels have excellent physicochemical properties and are non-toxic, environmentally friendly, and biodegradable, making them extremely effective at removing contaminants like heavy metal ions, dyes, pharmaceutical pollutants, and organic micropollutants. The versatility of hydrogels allows for various forms to be used, such as films, beads, and nanocomposites, providing flexibility in handling different contaminants like dyes, radionuclides, and heavy metals. Additionally, researchers also have shown the potential for recycling and regenerating post-treatment hydrogels. This approach not only addresses the challenges of wastewater treatment but also offers sustainable and effective solutions for mitigating water pollution.

Exploring microgel adsorption: synthesis, classification, and pollutant removal dynamics

Microgels have gained significant importance for the removal of pollutants owing to their stimulus-responsive behavior, high stability, and reusable capacity. However, despite these advantages, several hurdles need to be overcome to fully maximize their potential as effective adsorbents for eradicating various contaminants from the environment, such as metallic cations, organic compounds, anions, harmful gases, and dyes. Therefore, a critical review on the adsorption of pollutants by microgels is needed. In this regard, this review presents the latest developments in the adsorptive properties of microgels. The synthetic methods, architectural structures, and stimulus-responsive behavior of microgels are explained in detail. In addition, this review explores various factors that directly influence the adsorption of pollutants by microgels, such as pH, feed composition, content of pollutants, content of comonomers, agitation time, temperature, microgel dose, nature of both adsorbates (pollutants) and adsorbents (microgels), nature of the medium, and ionic strength. Various adsorption isotherms are also explored together with the kinetic aspects of the adsorption process to provide a comprehensive understanding.

Predicting soil cone index and assessing suitability for wind and solar farm development in using machine learning techniques

This study proposes a novel approach that combines machine learning models to predict soil compaction using the soil cone index values. The methodology incorporates support vector regression (SVR) to gather input data on key soil parameters, and the output data from SVR are used as inputs for additional machine learning techniques such as Gradient Boosting, Decision Tree, Artificial Neural Networks, and Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System. Evaluation of Artificial Intelligent techniques shows that the XGBoost model outperforms others, exhibiting high accuracy and reliability with low mean square error and high correlation coefficient. The effectiveness of the XGBoost model has implications for soil management, agricultural productivity, and land suitability evaluations, particularly for renewable energy projects. By integrating advanced AI techniques, stakeholders can make informed decisions about land use planning, sustainable farming practices, and the feasibility of renewable energy installations. Overall, this research contributes to soil science by demonstrating the potential of AI techniques, specifically the XGBoost model, in accurately predicting soil compaction and supporting optimal soil management practices.

Studies on adsorption properties of magnetic composite prepared by one-pot method for Cd(II), Pb(II), Hg(II), and As(III): Mechanism and practical application in food

A one-pot synthesis afforded a magnetic, crosslinked polymer adsorbent (m-P6) with a variety of functional groups to realize simultaneous adsorption of Cd2+, Pb2+, Hg2+, and As3+. The material was characterized by TEM-EDS, XRD, FT-IR, VSM, and XPS. Kinetic and isothermal analyses suggested mainly chemisorption processes of heavy metal ions that form multiple layers on heterogeneous surfaces. Theoretical adsorption capacities calculated by a pseudo-2nd-order kinetic model and the Sips isothermal model were 282.88 mg/g for Cd2+, 326.18 mg/g for Pb2+, 117.85 mg/g for Hg2+, and 320.29 mg/g for As3+. m-P6 not only can efficiently adsorb divalent heavy metals (Cd2+, Pb2+, Hg2+), but also demonstrate a process of adsorption-driven catalytic oxidation by single-electron transfer (SET) from As3+ to As5+. In application, in addition to adsorption in water, m-P6 is capable of minimizing matrix interference, and extracting trace heavy metals in a complex environment (cereal) through easy operations for improving the detection accuracy, as well as it is potential for application in detection of trace heavy metals in foodstuffs. m-P6 can be readily regenerated and efficiently recycled for 5 cycles using eluent E12 and dilute acid.

Waste bamboo framework decorated with α-FeOOH nanoneedles for effective arsenic (V/III) removal

Arsenic pollution of water is one of the severest environmental challenges for human health, and adsorption is the most often used technique in investigations of selective As removal. However, the development of low-cost and easily recoverable adsorbent for aqueous arsenic adsorption remains a challenge. In this work, the α-FeOOH-decorated monolith bamboo composites (α-FeOOH/MB) were fabricated via directly decorating α-FeOOH nanoneedles on the waste bamboo framework without pre‑carbonization. As expected, the as-prepared α-FeOOH/MB exhibits considerably increased adsorption capacity for aqueous arsenic over pure α-FeOOH nanoneedles, with increases of 1.88 and 1.52 times for As(V) and As(III), respectively. Meanwhile, the α-FeOOH/MB composites exhibit positive reusability (recovering 89.73 % and 80.17 % adsorption capacity for As(V) and As(III) after 5 cycles) and are easy to separate after water treatment. Furthermore, the α-FeOOH/MB composites exhibit high arsenic adsorption selectivity even in the presence of competing anions. Overall, the as-obtained α-FeOOH/MB composites, reuse of waste bamboo, are a kind of favorable candidate for arsenic decontamination in practical application owing to the high adsorption capacity, low-cost and facile separation features.

Amine-bilayer-functionalized cellulose-chitosan composite hydrogel for the efficient uptake of hazardous metal cations and catalysis in polluted water

Herein, we represent a novel ecofriendly bilayer-amine group incorporated microcrystalline cellulose (MCC)/chitosan (CS) hydrogel, fabricated via integrating polydopamine (PDA) and polyethyleneimine (PEI) for reliable and effective extraction of copper (Cu²⁺), zinc (Zn²⁺), and nickel (Ni²⁺) ions from effluents. Owing to abundant adsorptive sites, the MCC-PDA-PEI/CS-PDA-PEI hydrogel showed excellent Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺, and Ni²⁺ adsorbabilities of ~434.8, ~277.7, and ~261.8 mg/g, respectively, in a single-ion adsorption system with the adsorption kinetics and isotherm complied with pseudo-second-order and Langmuir models, respectively. In a multi-ion adsorption system, hydrogel removes mixed metal cations with slightly higher selectivity for Cu²⁺. In accordance with X-ray photoelectron and Fourier-transform-infrared spectrometric analyses, a plausible binding mechanism of metal cations on the as-prepared hydrogel was proposed by chelation between hydrogel functional groups and metal ions. In the repetitive adsorption/desorption experiments, the hydrogel retained >40% metal ion adsorption and desorption capacities after four cycles. Furthermore, the Cu²⁺-adsorbing hydrogel could serve as a support for the in situ development of Cu nanoparticles, which showed excellent catalytic performance as demonstrated by the transformation of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) to 4-aminophenol. This work provides a novel ecofriendly, reusable, and highly-efficient adsorbent, as well as a biocatalyst for remediation of heavy metal cations and 4-NP polluted effluents.

Hydrogel Adsorbents for the Removal of Hazardous Pollutants—Requirements and Available Functions as Adsorbent

Over the last few decades, various adsorption functions of polymer hydrogels for the removal of hazardous pollutants have been developed. The performance of hydrogel adsorbents depends on the constituents of the gels and the functions produced by the polymer networks of the gels. Research on hydrogels utilizing the characteristic functions of polymer networks has increased over the last decade. The functions of polymer networks are key to the development of advanced adsorbents for the removal of various pollutants. No review has discussed hydrogel adsorbents from the perspective of the roles and functions of polymer networks in hydrogels. This paper briefly reviews the basic requirements of adsorbents and the general characteristics of hydrogels as adsorbents. Thereafter, hydrogels are reviewed on the basis of the roles and functions of the polymer networks in them for the removal of hazardous pollutants by introducing studies published over the last decade. The application of hydrogels as adsorbents for the removal of hazardous pollutants is discussed as well.

Removal of Acetic Acid from Bacterial Culture Media by Adsorption onto a Two-Component Composite Polymer Gel

Organic acids, including acetic acid, are the metabolic products of many microorganisms. Acetic acid is a target product useful in the fermentation process. However, acetic acid has an inhibitory effect on microorganisms and limits fermentation. Thus, it would be beneficial to recover the acid from the culture medium. However, conventional recovery processes are expensive and environmentally unfriendly. Here, we report the use of a two-component hydrogel to adsorb dissociated and undissociated acetic acid from the culture medium. The Langmuir model revealed the maximum adsorption amount to be 44.8 mg acetic acid/g of dry gel at neutral pH value. The adsorption capacity was similar to that of an ion-exchange resin. In addition, the hydrogel maintained its adsorption capability in a culture medium comprising complex components, whereas the ion-exchange did not adsorb in this medium. The adsorbed acetic acid was readily desorbed using a solution containing a high salt concentration. Thus, the recovered acetic acid can be utilized for subsequent processes, and the gel-treated fermentation broth can be reused for the next round of fermentation. Use of this hydrogel may prove to be a more sustainable downstream process to recover biosynthesized acetic acid.

Efficient removal arsenate from water by biochar-loaded Ce3+-enriched ultra-fine ceria nanoparticles through adsorption-precipitation

Biochar-loaded Ce³⁺-enriched ultra-fine ceria nanoparticles (Ce-BC) were used as a novel nanostructured adsorbent for the removal of arsenate (As(V)) from aqueous solutions. The effect of cerium valence on As(V) adsorption and the mechanism of As(V) adsorption onto Ce-BC were investigated using batch experiments and a series of spectroscopy detection technologies. The adsorption isotherm data fitted with the Langmuir model, with maximum As(V) sorption capacity of 219.8 mg g^-1 at pH 5.0 and 25 °C. The adsorption kinetics fitted well with the pseudo-second-order model. Ce³⁺ on the surface of Ce-BC plays an important role in the adsorption of As(V). The decrease in Ce³⁺ concentration from 60.1% to 48.9% on the Ce-BC surface, significantly decreased the adsorption of As(V) on Ce-BC. Furthermore, a strong affinity between As(V) and Ce³⁺-enriched Ce-BC was revealed, resulting in irreversible adsorption. Most importantly, the adsorbed As(V) could further react with Ce³⁺ of the ultra-fine cerium oxide nanoparticles in Ce-BC to form rod-like CeAsO₄ precipitates. Through the novel adsorption-precipitation process, Ce-BC can be used to remove trace As(V).

Novel micro-structured carbon-based adsorbents for notorious arsenic removal from wastewater

The contamination of groundwater by arsenic (As) in Bangladesh is the biggest impairing of a population, with a large number of peoples affected. Specifically, groundwater of Gangetic Delta is alarmingly contaminated with arsenic. Similar, perilous circumstances exist in many other countries and consequently, there is a dire need to develop cost-effective decentralized filtration unit utilizing low-cost adsorbents for eliminating arsenic from water. Morphological synthesis of carbon with unique spherical, nanorod, and massive nanostructures were achieved by solvothermal method. Owing to their intrinsic adsorption properties and different nanostructures, these nanostructures were employed as adsorption of arsenic in aqueous solution, with the purpose to better understanding the morphological effect in adsorption. It clearly demonstrated that carbon with nanorods morphology exhibited an excellent adsorption activity of arsenite (about 82%) at pH 3, remarkably superior to the two with solid sphere and massive microstructures, because of its larger specific surface area, enhanced acid strength and improved adsorption capacity. Furthermore, we discovered that iron hydroxide radicals and energy-induced contact point formation in nanorods are the responsible for the high adsorption of As in aqueous solution. Thus, our work provides insides into the microstructure-dependent capability of different carbon for As adsorption applications.

Simultaneous Removal of Arsenic and Manganese from Synthetic Aqueous Solutions Using Polymer Gel Composites

The groundwater in approximately 50% of the Bangladesh landmass contains Mn concentrations greater than the limit prescribed by the WHO drinking water guidelines. Although studies have suggested that γ-FeOOH can effectively remove Mn from water, its practicability has not been investigated, considering that the additional processes required to separate the adsorbents and precipitates are not environment-friendly. To improve the efficiency of adsorptive Mn-removal under natural conditions, we employed a cationic polymer gel composite, N,N'-Dimethylaminopropyl acrylamide, methyl chloride quaternary (DMAPAAQ) loaded with iron hydroxide (DMAPAAQ + FeOOH), and a non-ionic polymer gel composite, N,N'-Dimethylacrylamide (DMAA) loaded with iron hydroxide (DMAA + FeOOH). DMAPAAQ + FeOOH exhibited a higher As removal efficiency under natural conditions while being environment-friendly. Our results suggest that the higher efficiency of the cationic gel composite is owed to the higher γ-FeOOH content in its gel structure. The maximum adsorption of Mn by DMAPAAQ + FeOOH was 39.02 mg/g. Furthermore, the presence of As did not influence the adsorption of Mn on the DMAPAAQ + FeOOH gel composite and vice versa. DMAPAAQ adsorbed As and the γ-FeOOH particles simultaneously adsorbed Mn. Our findings can serve as a basis for the simultaneous removal of contaminants such as As, Mn, Cr, and Cd.

Effective immobilization of hexavalent chromium from drinking water by nano-FeOOH coating activated carbon: Adsorption and reduction

In this study, nano α-FeOOH (nFeOOH, 100-500 nm) was coated onto activated carbon (nFeOOH@AC) through a dipping means for enhanced Cr(VI) immobilization from drinking water. The nFeOOH@AC significantly improved the Cr(VI) removal from 19.9% (AC control) to 93.4%. XPS spectra and chromium speciation demonstrated that about 90% of adsorbed Cr(VI) was converted to Cr(III) by the nFeOOH@AC, accompanying with a reduction-oxidation of Fe³⁺/Fe²⁺ in the nFeOOH matrix due to electrons delivering between AC and surface-bound Cr(VI). The resultant Cr(III) subsequently reacted with Fe(III) to generate stable (Cr_χFe_1-χ)(OH)₃ precipitates, leading to a much lower Cr(III) release of 7.5% back to solution by the nFeOOH@AC as compared to the AC control of 33.8%, indicating that the nFeOOH@AC had a prospective potential for Cr(VI) immobilization and decreased Cr residue in treated drinking water. Results from column experiment also showed that the nFeOOH@AC afforded a 3.5 times higher capacity for Cr(VI) immobilization and a 3.4 times longer life-span than the pristine AC. Besides, Cr(VI) immobilization by the nFeOOH@AC was a pH-dependent process and the adsorbed Cr on the nFeOOH@AC could be readily desorbed with acetic acid. The disabled nFeOOH@AC could be refreshed by recoating nFeOOH particles with the above dipping method after stripping all the iron oxides with hydrochloric acid. This study demonstrated that nFeOOH coating is an efficient approach to enhance Cr(VI) elimination by AC during drinking water treatments.

Amine functionalized egg albumin hydrogel with enhanced adsorption potential for diclofenac sodium in water

The removal of diclofenac sodium (DFS) from wastewater has attracted increasing attention because it is within the extensively prescribed nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and pose ecotoxicity. Therefore, fabrication of versatile adsorbents of low-cost, higher-effectiveness and excellent recyclability is significant for the treatment of DFS contaminated wastewater. This work reports a promising biobased egg albumin (ALB) hydrogel functionalized with a large density of adsorptive amine sites via polyethyleneimine (PEI). The composite ALB/PEI hydrogel demonstrated an excellent DFS removal capacity, i.e. 232.5 mg/g, in an optimum experimental condition (pH∼6; contact time∼180 min; adsorbent dosage∼0.5 g/L) which revealed to be considerably higher or competitive than many reported adsorbents. The adsorption isotherms better accorded with the Langmuir model and the kinetics with the pseudo second-order model, indicating the mono-layer chemisorption process. Besides, the regeneration steps up to four sequential adsorption/desorption cycles demonstrated an excellent reusability. The Fourier-transform infrared spectrometry (FTIR), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) results implied that the adsorption process followed via the electrostatic interactions, hydrogen bonding, and π-π stacking between the functionality of hydrogel and aromatic rings of DFS. Considering the low-cost, and an excellent DFS removal capacity, the natural composite ALB/PEI hydrogel could be a promising adsorbent for the treatment of DFS contaminated wastewater.

Arsenic adsorption by innovative iron/calcium in-situ-impregnated mesoporous activated carbons from low-temperature water and effects of the presence of humic acids

Innovative iron/calcium in-situ-impregnated mesoporous activated carbons (GL100 and GL200) have been prepared by iron/calcium in-situ-impregnation and Multistage Depth-Activation. Arsenic adsorption kinetics, isotherms, thermodynamics, and re-usability were investigated. Effects of surface-absorbed (ST-HA) and dissolved states humic acid (DHA) on the arsenic adsorption were also determined. Results suggested in-situ iron/calcium impregnation caused the well-development of mesoporous structures during ranges of 2.0-5.0 nm in GL100 and 5.0-50 nm in GL200, respectively. The increase of iron/calcium ensured surface basicity and high ash contents on GL100/GL200, and As(III)/As(V) can be better adsorbed in neutral conditions with higher kinetics in comparison with regular mesoporous carbon XHIT. Maximum adsorption capacities of As(III)/As(V) by GL100 and GL200 were 2.985/3.385 mg/g and 2.516/2.807 mg/g, respectively. Arsenic desorption and carbon re-usability of GL100/200 was improved. As(III)(As (V)) adsorption capacities by GL100 and GL200 were 2.437(1.672) mg/g and 1.740(1.308) mg/g, respectively, after eight cycles. Arsenic adsorption capacities on GL100 were proved to be promoted with the presence of low-level of ST-HA or DHA, and be inhibited at a high-level. As(V) was bound more strongly than As(III) in the presence of ST-HA. As(III)/As(V) uptakes increased slightly and decrease gradually to 1.75/1.86 mg/g in the presence of DHA (0-10 mg DOC/L). Physisorption and chemisorption mechanisms dominant in arsenic adsorption on GL100 in presence of humic acid, forming inner-sphere complexation with metallic oxide, functional groups on carbon surface and humic acid structure, or ternary surface complexation via cationic metal ions as cation bridge.

Synthesis, Phase-Transition Behaviour, and Oil Adsorption Performance of Porous Poly(oligo(ethylene glycol) Alkyl Ether Acrylate) Gels

To probe the effects of pendant side-chain structures on the properties of porous thermoresponsive polymer gels, oligo(ethylene glycol) alkyl ether acrylates were polymerised in an aqueous medium under radical-mediated phase-separation conditions. The monomer structures varied according to the lengths and termini of their ethylene glycol side chains. The porous poly(oligo(ethylene glycol) alkyl ether acrylate) (POEGA) gels exhibited variable lower critical solution temperatures (LCSTs) but similar and rapid swelling–deswelling behaviours. Although the LCST of the poly(tri(ethylene glycol) monomethyl ether acrylate) (PTEGA) gel decreased with increasing aqueous NaCl or CaCl₂ concentration, PTEGA showed excellent thermosensitivity in highly concentrated salt solutions, recommending its application in saline environments. Examination of PTEGA adsorption performance in an oil–water emulsion showed that n-tridecane adsorption increased with temperature. Although n-tridecane was effectively adsorbed at 70 °C, its release from the fully adsorbed PTEGA gel was difficult despite a temperature reduction from 70 to 20 °C.

Adsorptive removal of trivalent and pentavalent arsenic from aqueous solutions using iron and copper impregnated melanin extracted from the marine bacterium Pseudomonas stutzeri

The metalloid arsenic is one of the most conspicuous groundwater contaminants in the Indian subcontinent and its removal from aqueous medium is the main focus of this study. The study aims at functionalising melanin using iron and copper for the efficient removal of arsenic and rendering water fit for consumption. Melanin obtained from the marine bacteria Pseudomonas stutzeri was functionalised by iron impregnation (Fe-melanin) and copper impregnation (Cu-melanin). Morphological studies using FESEM portrayed the impregnated iron and copper granules on the surface of melanin, while XRD analysis confirmed the presence of Fe₂O₃ and CuO on melanin. Adsorption studies on As (V) and As (III) were conducted using Fe-melanin and Cu-melanin for different operating variables like pH, temperature and contact time. More than 99% per cent of As (III) and As (V) from water was removed at a pH range between 4 and 6 within 50 min in the case of Fe-melanin and 80 min for Cu-melanin. Adsorption equilibrium studies showed better fit with Langmuir adsorption isotherm and had good agreement with Redlich-Peterson's three-parameter model. The maximum adsorption capacities of Fe-melanin and Cu-melanin obtained from Langmuir adsorption model are 50.12 and 20.39 mg/g, respectively, for As (V) and similarly 39.98 and 19.52 mg/g, respectively, for As (III). Arsenic-binding to the functionalised melanin was confirmed using FT-IR and the XPS analysis. Reuse of the adsorbent was effectively done by desorbing the iron and copper together with the bound As (III) and As (V) and further re-impregnation of iron and copper in melanin. Re-functionalised melanin showed 99% adsorption efficiency up to four cycles of adsorption/desorption.

The effect of γ-FeOOH on enhancing arsenic adsorption from groundwater with DMAPAAQ + FeOOH gel composite

Arsenic contamination of groundwater is a serious concern worldwide. The research gaps in removing arsenic are selectivity, regeneration and effective removal rate at neutral pH levels. In this study, we discussed the reasons of the high arsenic adsorption from groundwater of our previously developed adsorbent, a cationic polymer gel, N,N-dimethylamino propylacrylamide, methyl chloride quaternary (DMAPAAQ), loaded with iron hydroxide. We used a transmission electron microscope (TEM) and thermogravimetric analyser (TGA) to detect the iron contents in the gel and ensure its maximum impregnation. We found that the gel contains 62.05% FeOOH components. In addition, we used the Mössbauer spectroscopy to examine the type of impregnated iron in the gel composite and found that it was γ-FeOOH. Finally, we used Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) to examine the surface functional groups present in the gel and the differences in those groups before and after iron impregnation. Similarly, we also investigated the differences of the surface functional groups in the gel, before and after the adsorption of both forms of arsenic. To summarize, this study described the characteristics of the gel composite, which is selective in adsorption and cost effective, however further applications should be investigated.

A Comparison Study on the Arsenate Adsorption Behavior of Calcium-Bearing Materials

The calcium-bearing adsorbents are widely used in the treatment of arsenic-containing wastewater due to their excellent treatment effect and economy. In order to obtain high-efficient adsorbents for arsenate (As(V)) removal, the adsorption behavior of calcium oxide (CaO), calcium fluoride (CaF₂) and calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) on As(V) in aqueous solution at different concentrations were explored. The adsorption mechanism was also explored based on surface characteristics: morphology, specific surface area, as well as their effective calcium content. Not only that, the chemical stability of these materials was further studied. Results exhibited that the As(V) removal capability of these materials is in the following order, CaO > CaF₂ > CaCO₃. When CaO served as an absorbent, As(V) with initial concentration of 0.2 mg/L can be reduced to 0.383 × 10^-3 mg/L in 10 min. Moreover, the capabilities of CaO, CaF₂ and CaCO₃ for removing As(V) are positively correlated with their effective calcium content in aqueous solution, which provide the basis for selecting calcium-bearing materials with excellently comprehensive properties for the field of As(V) removal in aqueous solution. What's more, all three materials exhibit great chemical stability after adsorption of As(V).

Ultrafast and deep removal of arsenic in high-concentration wastewater: A superior bulk adsorbent of porous Fe2O3 nanocubes-impregnated graphene aerogel

Bulk adsorbents for fast and deep removal of arsenic in water is highly demanded for practical treatment process, especially fixed-bed column process. In this study, a superior bulk adsorbent of porous Fe₂O₃ nanocubes-impregnated porous graphene aerogel (PGA/PFe₂O₃) is prepared using a simple template engineering. The maximum capacity for As(III) and As(V) reaches as high as 172.27 and 217.34 mg g^-1 of Fe₂O₃, respectively. The adsorption equilibrium times of As(III) and As(V) on PGA/PFe₂O₃ are only 30 and 5 min, respectively (m/V = 0.5 g L^-1, C₀ = 5 mg L^-1). Significantly, the high concentrations of As(III) and As(V) can be reduced below 10 μg L^-1 within only 60 and 5 min, respectively. The aerogel is conducive to fast diffusion of arsenic and porous Fe₂O₃ nanocubes provide abundant adsorption sites. Moreover, the adsorbent exhibits an outstanding reusability. The adsorbent also shows a strong anti-interference to aquatic environment. A real realgar tailing wastewater (C₀ = 3.076 mg L^-1 for As(III) and 3.225 mg L^-1 for As(V)) can be deep treated (below 10 μg L^-1) within 4 h (m/V = 0.6 g L^-1). The bulk adsorbent of PGA/PFe₂O₃ presents a high column treatment capacity of arsenic-containing groundwater (4750 BV for As(III), 5730 BV for As(V)), producing only 12 BV eluent. This work develops a superior bulk adsorbent for large-scale treatment of arsenic-containing wastewater.