Removal of arsenic using hardened paste of Portland cement: batch adsorption and column study

Reprocessed construction and demolition waste as an adsorbent: An appraisal

Construction and Demolition (C&D) waste is solid wastes generated from the construction, demolition, and renovation activities that constitute almost 30-40 % of globally generated solid wastes. Improper disposal and management of these materials can cause negative impacts on the environment, economy, and human health. Most research on C&D waste is limited to reduction, recycling, and reuse of the wastes. However, there is no systematic review dedicated entirely to the applicability of C&D wastes as adsorbent for waste management. This review presents the utilization of C&D wastes-based adsorbents for removing contaminants from environmental matrices covering triple edge benefits in the viewpoints of waste treatment, solid waste management, and disposal. The properties, the capability of C&D waste adsorbents on contaminant removal, and the influence of various factors on the adsorptive removal is detailed. Further, the mechanisms involved in contaminant removal by C&D waste are summarized. The review revealed that, chemisorption is the prominent mechanism of contaminant removal by most C&D wastes. Among the three types of C&D waste reviewed; concrete-based adsorbents were the most efficient for contaminant removal. Limited studies are avaiable in the literature on binary and multiple contaminant systems, reusability studies, and high dependence on solution pH, therefore further studies are warrated. As C&D waste contain trace concentration of heavy metals and contaminants, its leaching potential at different pH levels and adsorbate concentration need to be conducted, which has been hitherto neglected. Finally, the approaches, obstacles, and potential solutions to build an industrially and economically efficient C&D adsorbent are discussed.

Arsenate removal using titanium dioxide-doped cementitious composites: Mixture design, mechanisms, and simulated sewer application

Arsenate (As(V)) in municipal wastewater leads to a public health problem due to its contamination of natural water sources. Here, we proposed to use sewer pipe made of TiO2-doped cementitious composite (TCC) for As(V) removal from municipal wastewater. The optimum composition of TCC, the performance for As(V) removal in the simulated sewer system, and the molecular-level As(V) removal mechanisms were investigated. To obtain the optimum composition, variables were adjusted to maximize the As(V) removal using TCC. Results show that the TiO2 and water contents were the dominant factors. Simulated sewer pipes made of TCC removed As(V) from 100 μg/L to <10 μg/L, which performed better than plain cementitious composite. Moreover, extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) analysis indicates that both precipitation and adsorption contribute to the As(V) removal by TCC, while the adsorption is more significant with a lower As(V) concentration (i.e., 1 mg/L). This is the first study evaluating the feasibility to apply TCC for As(V) removal from sewer wastewater. The optimized composition, simulation results, and molecular-level mechanism gained from this study are useful to the future design of TCC for As(V) removal, especially for sewer systems.

Arsenite removal from drinking water by bark-based magnetic iron oxide particle (BMIOP): a column study

The removal of arsenite [As(III)] from drinking water was investigated in a column at flow rates of 2.0 and 5.0 mL/min (up-flow direction) using bark-based magnetic iron oxide particles (BMIOP) prepared by coating (Fe(NO₃)₃.9H₂O) over Tamarindus Indica bark. The BMIOP was compared with regenerated BMIOP, commercial activated carbon, commercial activated alumina (Al₂O₃). At 2.0 mL/min, empty bed contact time (EBCT), breakthrough time (BT), the volume of treated water and breakthrough capacity (BC) on fresh BMIOP were found to be 6.8 min, 33.15 h, 4.380 L and 0.742 mg/g, respectively, and at 5.0 mL/min, were found to be 4.1 min, 13 h, 3.675 L and 0.453 mg/g respectively. EBCT, BT and BC were increased by 65.85%, 155% and 63.79%, respectively, as the flow rate was reduced from 5.0 to 2.0 mL/min. After regeneration of BMIOP, EBCT, BT, saturated time, BC and saturation capacity (SC) were reduced by 21.95%, 15.38%, 55.15%, 16.78% and 29.71%, respectively. The BC of fresh BMIOP was increased by factors 4.15, 3.60 and 1.20 and SC by factors 9.51, 7.88 and 1.42 compared to commercial activated carbon, commercial activated Al₂O₃ and regenerated BMIOP, respectively. Logit model could be used for the design of the adsorption column. Thomas model and artificial neural network (ANN) were applied to predict the characteristic column parameters useful for process design. Quality of treated water meets BIS requirements. Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP) and semi-dynamic tests show that the exhausted BMIOP is safe for disposal in a secure landfill; hence, BMIOP has been proved to separate As(III) from water.

Deep insight on mechanism and contribution of As(V) removal by thermal modification waste concrete powder

Expanding the utilization strategy of waste concrete powder (WCP) is conducive to minimizing the environmental burden caused by construction & demolition wastes (C&DW). In this study, WCP prepared in the laboratory was thermally treated and used to remove As(V) from wastewater. Batch adsorption tests were implemented to explore the influence factors such as modification temperature (0-850 °C), pH (1.00-12.00), dosage (2-50 g/L), co-coexisting ions (SO₄^2-, NO₃^-, Cl^- and PO₄^3-) and temperature (25-45 °C). Various methods including spectroscopic tests, Rietveld refinement and sequential extraction process were employed to examine the mechanisms and their contribution to As(V) removal. Results show that the As(V) removal capacity of WCP was slightly enhanced after treatment at 200 °C, the pseudo-second-order kinetics model and Langmuir model could describe the adsorption process well. The maximum uptake capacity for As(V) calculated by Langmuir model at 25, 35 and 45 °C were 31.89, 25.56 and 17.42 mg/g respectively, and the removal rate reached a maximum of 95.37% (C₀ = 100 mg/L). Thermodynamically, the As(V) elimination was exothermic and spontaneous. The ettringite produced by rehydration of WCP proved to be essential for As(V) removal. Electrostatic attraction, precipitation, complexation and ion exchange were identified to be the main mechanisms of As(V) adsorption. This study confirmed the potential of WCP in removing As(V) from wastewater and provided a new insight into the removal mechanisms.

Synthetic Iowaite Can Effectively Remove Inorganic Arsenic from Marine Extract

For the removal of arsenic from marine products, iowaite was prepared and investigated to determine the optimal adsorption process of arsenic. Different chemical forms of arsenic (As(III), As(V)) with varying concentrations (0.15, 1.5, 5, 10, 15, and 20 mg/L) under various conditions including pH (3, 5, 7, 9, 11) and contact time (1, 2, 5, 10, 15, 30, 60, 120, 180 min) were exposed to iowaite. Adsorption isotherms and metal ions kinetic modeling onto the adsorbent were determined based on Langmuir, Freundlich, first- and second-order kinetic models. The adsorption onto iowaite varied depending on the conditions. The adsorption rates of standard solution, As(III) and As(V) exceeded 95% under proper conditions, while high complexity was noted with marine samples. As(III) and As(V) from Mactra veneriformis extraction all decreased when exposed to iowaite. The inclusion morphology and interconversion of organic arsenic limit adsorption. Iowaite can be efficiently used for inorganic arsenic removal from wastewater and different marine food products, which maybe other adsorbent or further performance of iowaite needs to be investigated for organic arsenic.

Removal of arsenate using graphene oxide-iron modified clinoptilolite-based composites: adsorption kinetic and column study

In this study, graphene oxide (GO), iron modified clinoptilolite (FeZ), and composites of GO-FeZ (GOFeZA and GOFeZB) were synthesized and characterized using SEM, EDS, XRF, FTIR, and pHpzc. The arsenate uptake on composites of GOFeZA and GOFeZB was examined by both kinetic and column studies. The adsorption capacity increases with the increase of the initial arsenate concentration at equilibrium for both composites. At the initial arsenate concentration of 450 μg/L, the arsenate adsorption on GOFeZA and GOFeZB was 557.86 and 554.64 μg/g, respectively. Arsenate adsorption on both composites showed good compatibility with the pseudo second order kinetic model. The adsorption process was explained by the surface complexation or ion exchange and electrostatic attraction between GOFeZA or GOFeZB and arsenate ions in the aqueous solution due to the relatively low equilibrium time and fairly rapid adsorption of arsenate at the beginning of the process. The adsorption mechanism was confirmed by characterization studies performed after arsenate was loaded onto the composites. The fixed-bed column experiments showed that the increasing the flow rate of the arsenate solution through the column resulted in a decrease in empty bed contact time, breakthrough time, and volume of treated water. As a result of the continuous operation column study with regenerated GOFeZA, it was demonstrated that the regenerated GOFeZA has lower breakthrough time and volume of treated water compared to fresh GOFeZA.

Antimonate removal by diatomite modified with Fe-Mn oxides: application and mechanism study

In this study, diatomite coated with Fe-Mn oxides (DFMO) was synthesized through calcination. The adsorption of antimonate (Sb(V)) by DFMO was studied, and environmental factors affecting the adsorption were investigated. The components of DFMO were identified as γ-Fe₂O₃, γ-MnO₂, and SiO₂, in the presence of diatomite covered with nanoscale metal oxides. Batch experiments were carried out to evaluate the antimonate adsorption performance in aqueous solution. Results showed that maximum Sb(V) adsorption capacity of DFMO reached 10.7 mg/g at pH 4, corresponding to 22.2 mg/g per unit metal oxides. Antimonate adsorption occurred on heterogenous surface, following the Freundlich and Pseudo-second order model. Overall, antimonate adsorption was favored at acidic condition due to low point of zero charge. However, when treating electroplating wastewater, neutral pH condition exhibited a higher efficiency than acidic pH, because co-existing ions in electroplating wastewater significantly affects antimony adsorption. Further investigation showed that among different potential co-existing ions, fluoride can strongly inhibit the adsorption of antimonate at 5 mg/L under pH 4. Density functional theory (DFT) analysis confirmed that adsorption energy on DFMO follows: HF < F^- < Sb(OH)₆^-, indicating that fluoride is easier to bind with DFMO compared to antimonate, especially under pH 3.5 at which fluoride exists as HF. Moreover, the competitive adsorption of fluoride toward antimonate indicated the necessity of pre-treatment like neutralization and precipitation before adsorption process.

Current Trends of Arsenic Adsorption in Continuous Mode: Literature Review and Future Perspectives

Arsenic is a toxic element for humans and a major pollutant in drinking water. Natural and anthropogenic sources can release As into water bodies. The countries with the greatest arsenic contamination issues lack the affordable technology to attain the maximum permitted concentrations. Adsorption can be a highly efficient and low-cost option for advanced water treatment, and the development of new cheap adsorbents is essential to expand access to water with a safe concentration of arsenic. This paper aims to review the state of the art of arsenic adsorption from water in continuous mode and the latest progress in the regeneration and recovery of arsenic. The disposal of the exhausted bed is also discussed. Fixed-bed column tests conducted with novel adsorbents like binary metal oxides and biosorbents achieved the highest adsorption capacities of 28.95 mg/g and 74.8 mg/g, respectively. Iron-coated materials presented the best results compared to adsorbents under other treatments. High recovery rates of 99% and several cycles of bed regeneration were achieved, which can aggregate economic value for the process. Overall, further pilot-scale research is recommended to evaluate the feasibility of novel adsorbents for industrial purposes.

Comparison Study on the Adsorption Behavior of Chemically Functionalized Graphene Oxide and Graphene Oxide on Cement

Chemical functionalization of graphene oxide (GO) is one kind of advanced strategy to eliminate the negative effects on the flowability of cement with GO. The adsorption behavior of admixture on cement plays a vital role in the flowability of cement-based materials. Herein, the comparison study on the adsorption behavior (including adsorption amount, adsorption kinetics, adsorption isotherms and adsorption layer thickness) of three kinds of chemically functionalized graphene oxides (CFGOs) with different polyether amine branched-chain lengths and GO on cement is reported. The results of CFGOs and GO adsorption data on cement particles were all best fitted with the pseudo-second-order kinetic model, and also conformed to the Freundlich isothermal model, indicating that the adsorption of CFGOs and GO on cement both were multilayer type and took place in a heterogeneous manner. The adsorption of CFGOs and GO on cement was not just physical adsorption, but also engaged chemical adsorption. In contrast to GO, the adsorption behavior of CFGOs on cement represented a lesser adsorption amount, weaker adsorption capacity and thinner adsorption layer thickness. Moreover, the longer the branched-chain length of CFGOs, the greater the decreasing degrees of adsorption amount, adsorption capacity and adsorption layer thickness. Due to the consumption of the carboxyl group (-COOH) by chemical functionalization, the anchoring effect of CFGOs was weaker than GO, and the steric hindrance effect generated from branched-chains which weakened the van der Waals forces among CFGOs layers. Moreover, the steric hindrance effect strengthened with the increasing branched-chain length, thus preventing the cement particles from aggregation, which resulted in satisfactory flowability of CFGOs with incorporation of cement rather than GO.

Tuning tetracycline removal from aqueous solution onto activated 2:1 layered clay mineral: Characterization, sorption and mechanistic studies

Water pollution due to emerging contaminants (especially pharmaceuticals) is a major environmental threat which results in the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria/resistance genes in the aquatic environment. Therefore, robust and cost-effective methods are required to address this problem. In this study, thermal activation was opted for the modification of natural bentonite clay (BC) and utilized to investigate the adsorptive removal of tetracycline (TC) from aqueous solution. The physicochemical surface properties of the raw and modified bentonite samples were also investigated. The BET analysis revealed that the thermally activated bentonite (TB) has better properties than BC. The surface area of TB was found to be more than two-fold higher compared to that of BC. The FTIR spectra exhibited the existence of AlOH, SiO and SiOSi functional groups in the samples, confirming the presence of hydrated aluminosilicate in the clay. The effects of various operating parameters were analyzed via optimization studies. The maximum monolayer adsorption capacity estimated by Langmuir model was found to be 156.7 and 388.1 mg g^-1 for BC and TB, respectively. Furthermore, fixed-bed column studies were performed to get insights into the adsorption behavior of TB in a dynamic system. The mechanism of TC adsorption by TB was successfully explored.

Enhanced interlayer trapping of Pb(II) ions within kaolinite layers: intercalation, characterization, and sorption studies

Lead (Pb(II)) pollution in water poses a serious threat to human health in many parts of the world. In the past decades, research has been aimed at developing efficient and cost-effective methods to address the problem. In this study, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and potassium acetate (K-Ac) intercalated kaolinite complexes were synthesized and subsequently utilized for Pb(II) removal from water. The intercalation of kaolinite with DMSO was found to be useful for expanding the interlayer space of the clay mineral from 0.72 to 1.12 nm. Kaolinite intercalation with K-Ac (KDK) increased the interlayer space from 1.12 to 1.43 nm. The surface area of KDK was found to be more than threefold higher as compared to natural kaolinite (NK). Batch experimental results revealed that the maximum Pb(II) uptake capacity of KDK was 46.45 mg g^-1 which was higher than the capacity of NK (15.52 mg g^-1). Reusability studies showed that KDK could be reused for 5 cycles without substantially losing its adsorption capacity. Furthermore, fixed-bed column tests confirmed the suitability of KDK in continuous mode for Pb(II) removal. Successful application of intercalated kaolinite for Pb(II) adsorption in batch and column modes suggests its application in water treatment (especially removal of divalent metals).

Hexavalent chromium removal from water by microalgal-based materials: Adsorption, desorption and recovery studies

The current study presents a comprehensive comparison towards the potential of different microalgal-based materials for the removal of hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) from water. Among the tested materials, microalgal biochar showed the highest removal efficiency (100%) of Cr(VI). The highest monolayer estimated adsorption capacities were 23.98, 25.19 and 24.27 mg/g at 5, 22 and 35 °C, respectively. Experimental data showed good compliance with pseudo-second-order kinetic model. The results of continuous column studies showed that the column removal efficiency increased from 52.33 to 57.58% by increasing the adsorbent dose from 0.125 to 0.200 g. Desorption efficiency of Cr(VI) by 0.1 M NaOH was increased from 51.16 to 59.41% by sonication bath as compared to roller shaker. More than 97% of desorbed Cr(VI) was recovered in less than 10 min by BaCl₂. This study shows that non-living microalga materials are more effective than living cells in the removal and recovery of Cr(VI) from water.

Adsorption Characteristics and Transport Behavior of Cr(VI) in Shallow Aquifers Surrounding a Chromium Ore Processing Residue (COPR) Dumpsite

This study explored the stratigraphic distribution and soil/shallow aquifer characteristics surrounding a chromium ore processing residue (COPR) dumpsite at a former chemical factory in China. Total Cr levels in top soils (5–10 cm) nearby the COPR dumpsite were in the range of 8571.4–10711.4 mg/kg. Shallow aquifers (1–6 m) nearby the COPR dumpsite showed a maximum total Cr level of 9756.7 mg/kg. The concentrations of Cr(VI) in groundwater nearby the COPR dumpsite were 766.9–1347.5 mg/L. These results display that the top soils, shallow aquifers, and groundwater of the study site are severely polluted by Cr(VI). Then, three aquifers (silt, clay, and silty clay), respectively, collected from the depth of 1.4–2.4 m, 2.4–4.8 m, and 4.8–11.00 m were first used to evaluate the adsorption characteristics and transport behavior of Cr(VI) in shallow aquifers by both batch and column experiments. The adsorption of Cr(VI) on tested aquifers was well described by pseudo-second-order equation and Freundlich model. The adsorption capacities of Cr(VI) on three aquifers followed the order: clay > silty clay > silt. The kinetics proved that Cr(VI) is not easily adsorbed by the aquifer mediums but transports with groundwater. Thermodynamics indicated that Cr(VI) adsorption on tested aquifers was feasible, spontaneous, and endothermic. Cr(VI) adsorption on tested aquifers decreased with increasing pH. Furthermore, the transport of Cr(VI) in adsorption columns followed the sequence of clay < silty clay < silt. Desorption column experiments infer that the Cr(VI) adsorbed on aquifers will desorb and release into groundwater in the case of rainwater leaching. Therefore, a proper treatment of the COPR and a comprehensive management of soils are vital to prevent groundwater pollution.

Development of bark-based magnetic iron oxide particle (BMIOP), a bio-adsorbent for removal of arsenic (III) from water

Novel low-cost bark-based magnetic iron oxide particles (BMIOPs) were synthesized and investigated for the removal of As(III) in drinking water. The synthesized BMIOP had a saturation magnetization value of 38.62 emug^-1 which was found to be enough for the magnetic separation of exhausted BMIOP after As(III) adsorption. Parameters like agitation speed, adsorbent dosage, contact time, pH, temperature, and initial concentration were thoroughly investigated. Langmuir, Freundlich, and Dubinin-Radushkevich isotherms were used for the modeling of experiments and observed a maximum adsorption (19.61 mg g^-1) of As(III) by Langmuir isotherm. Kinetics of As(III) sorption were well correlated with the coefficients in pseudo-first-order than the pseudo-second-order rate equation. Thermodynamic parameter investigation revealed that As(III) sorption process is endothermic, feasible, and spontaneous. BMIOP emerged as less expensive adsorbent for the abatement of arsenic ion from the drinking water. BMIOP showed 13.58 mg g^-1 adsorption capacity when As(V) alone is present, while it is 9.43 and 7.04 mg g^-1 for As(V) and As(III), respectively, when present together in the water. Graphical Abstract ᅟ.

Removal of arsenic(III) from water by magnetic binary oxide particles (MBOP): Experimental studies on fixed bed column

Magnetic binary oxide particles (MBOP) were prepared by template method using chitosan in the laboratory for the removal of As(III) from water. The prepared MBOP has super paramagnetic property which is sufficient for magnetic separation. Column study was performed at two different flow rates of 2.0ml/min and 5.0ml/min and comparison was made with regenerated MBOP, commercial activated carbon and commercial activated alumina. It is observed that fresh MBOP has higher breakthrough time and capacity than regenerated MBOP by a factor of 1.25 and 1.37 respectively. In Logit method, the values of K (adsorption rate constant) and N (adsorption capacity coefficient) were obtained as 0.2066 (L/mgh) and 1014(mg/L) for 5.0ml/min flow rate. All the drinking water parameters are within the limit of BIS 10500-2012. Toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP) and semi dynamic tests were performed for the mix ratios of 01:02:01, 01:02:05 and 01:02:10 and were found safe for the disposal.

Simultaneously removal of inorganic arsenic species from stored rainwater in arsenic endemic area by leaves of Tecomella undulata: a multivariate study

In the present study, an indigenous biosorbent (leaves of Tecomella undulata) was used for the simultaneous removal of inorganic arsenic species (As(III) and As(V)) from the stored rainwater in Tharparkar, Pakistan. The Plackett-Burman experimental design was used as a multivariate strategy for the evaluation of the effects of six factors/variables on the biosorption of inorganic arsenic species, simultaneously. Central composite design (CCD) was used to found the optimum values of significant factors for the removal of As(III) and As(V). Initial concentrations of both inorganic As species, pH, biosorbent dose, and contact time were selected as independent factors in CCD, while the adsorption capacity (q e) was considered as a response function. The separation of inorganic As species in water samples before and after biosorption was carried out by cloud point and solid-phase extraction methods. Theoretical values of pH, concentration of analytes, biosorbent dose, and contact time were calculated by quadratic equation for 100 % biosorption of both inorganic As species in aqueous media. Experimental data were modeled by Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms. Thermodynamic and kinetic study indicated that the biosorption of As(III) and As(V) was followed by pseudo second order. It was concluded that the indigenous biosorbent material efficiently and simultaneously removed both As species in the range of 70.8 to 98.5 % of total contents in studied ground water samples. Graphical abstract Optimizing the significant varable by central 2(3) + star orthogonal composite design.

Adsorption and desorption of arsenate on sandy sediments from contaminated and uncontaminated saturated zones: Kinetic and equilibrium modeling

Application of empirical models to adsorption of contaminants on natural heterogeneous sorbents is often challenging due to the uncertainty associated with fitting experimental data and determining adjustable parameters. Sediment samples from contaminated and uncontaminated portions of a study site in Maine, USA were collected and investigated for adsorption of arsenate [As(V)]. Two kinetic models were used to describe the results of single solute batch adsorption experiments. Piecewise linear regression of data linearized to fit pseudo-first order kinetic model resulted in two distinct rates and a cutoff time point of 14-19 h delineating the biphasic behavior of solute adsorption. During the initial rapid adsorption stage, an average of 60-80% of the total adsorption took place. Pseudo-second order kinetic models provided the best fit to the experimental data (R(2) > 0.99) and were capable of describing the adsorption over the entire range of experiments. Both Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms provided reasonable fits to the adsorption data at equilibrium. Langmuir-derived maximum adsorption capacity (St) of the studied sediments ranged between 29 and 97 mg/kg increasing from contaminated to uncontaminated sites. Solid phase As content of the sediments ranged from 3.8 to 10 mg/kg and the As/Fe ratios were highest in the amorphous phase. High-pH desorption experiments resulted in a greater percentage of solid phase As released into solution from experimentally-loaded sediments than from the unaltered samples suggesting that As(V) adsorption takes place on different reversible and irreversible surface sites.

A metal–organic framework/α-alumina composite with a novel geometry for enhanced adsorptive separation

Incorporation of MOF UiO-66 into an advanced α-alumina matrix leads to a novel composite concept for enhanced adsorptive separation.

Adsorption characteristics of graphene oxide nanosheets on cement

The adsorption characteristics of graphene oxide nanosheets on cement were investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), total organic carbon (TOC), Fourier transform infrared spectra (FTIR) and XPS analyses.

Adsorption of cefixime from aqueous solutions using modified hardened paste of Portland cement by perlite; optimization by Taguchi method

In the present study, we have used a simple and cost-effective removal technique by a commercially available Fe-Al-SiO2 containing complex material (hardened paste of Portland cement (HPPC)). The adsorbing performance of HPPC and modified HPPC with perlite for removal of cefixime from aqueous solutions was investigated comparatively by using batch adsorption studies. HPPC has been selected because of the main advantages such as high efficiency, simple separation of sludge, low-cost and abundant availability. A Taguchi orthogonal array experimental design with an OA16 (4(5)) matrix was employed to optimize the affecting factors of adsorbate concentration, adsorbent dosage, type of adsorbent, contact time and pH. On the basis of equilibrium adsorption data, Langmuir, Freundlich and Temkin adsorption isotherm models were also confirmed. The results showed that HPPC and modified HPPC were both efficient adsorbents for cefixime removal.

Arsenic and fluoride contaminated groundwaters: A review of current technologies for contaminants removal

Chronic contamination of groundwaters by both arsenic (As) and fluoride (F) is frequently observed around the world, which has severely affected millions of people. Fluoride and As are introduced into groundwaters by several sources such as water-rock interactions, anthropogenic activities, and groundwater recharge. Coexistence of these pollutants can have adverse effects due to synergistic and/or antagonistic mechanisms leading to uncertain and complicated health effects, including cancer. Many developing countries are beset with the problem of F and As laden waters, with no affordable technologies to provide clean water supply. The technologies available for the simultaneous removal are akin to chemical treatment, adsorption and membrane processes. However, the presence of competing ions such as phosphate, silicate, nitrate, chloride, carbonate, and sulfate affect the removal efficiency. Highly efficient, low-cost and sustainable technology which could be used by rural populations is of utmost importance for simultaneous removal of both pollutants. This can be realized by using readily available low cost materials coupled with proper disposal units. Synthesis of inexpensive and highly selective nanoadsorbents or nanofunctionalized membranes is required along with encapsulation units to isolate the toxicant loaded materials to avoid their re-entry in aquifers. A vast number of reviews have been published periodically on removal of As or F alone. However, there is a dearth of literature on the simultaneous removal of both. This review critically analyzes this important issue and considers strategies for their removal and safe disposal.

A fixed-bed column for phosphate removal from aqueous solutions using an andosol-bagasse mixture

It is difficult to eliminate phosphate from large volumes of water in batch mode using an adsorbent such as andosol. In a fixed-bed column, andosol has a very low permeability. In this study, andosol was mixed with bagasse to increase permeability. The mixture was then applied for the adsorption of phosphate in a fixed-bed column. Optimum and stable permeability was obtained with a 50/50 mixture of andosol and bagasse. The maximum adsorption capacity obtained was 4.18 mg/g for a column with a bed depth of 1.8 cm and a flow rate of 4 mL/min. The experimental data fit best to Thomas and Adam-Bohart models. These experimental results were applied in the treatment of natural phosphate-containing water from Yaoundé Municipal Lake in Cameroon. Column performance increased by 60% due to the presence of Ca(2+) and Mg(2+) in the natural water. These cations form complexes with phosphate at the andosol surface. The standard enthalpy 15.964 kj/mol indicated that phosphate adsorption on andosol-bagasse mixture was an endothermic process. Kinetic experiments demonstrated that phosphate adsorption fitted better with a pseudo-second-order model.

Preparation and performance of arsenate (V) adsorbents derived from concrete wastes

Solid adsorbent materials, prepared from waste cement powder and concrete sludge were assessed for removal of arsenic in the form of arsenic (As(V)) from water. All the materials exhibited arsenic removal capacity when added to distilled water containing 10-700 mg/L arsenic. The arsenic removal isotherms were expressed by the Langmuir type equations, and the highest removal capacity was observed for the adsorbent prepared from concrete sludge with heat treatment at 105°C, the maximum removal capacity being 175 mg-As(V)/g. Based on changes in arsenic and calcium ion concentrations, and solution pH, the removal mechanism for arsenic was considered to involve the precipitation of calcium arsenate, Ca3(AsO4)2. The enhanced removal of arsenic for the adsorbent prepared from concrete sludge with heat treatment was thought to reflect ion exchange by ettringite. The prepared adsorbents, derived from waste cement and concrete using simple procedures, may offer a cost effective approach for arsenic removal and clean-up of contaminated waters, especially in developing countries.

Arsenate Removal from Water by Simultaneous Green Tea Nano-Zerovalent Iron and Ultrasonic Wave

Nano-zerovalent iron (NZVI) was synthesized using green tea (GT) extract and it was used as an adsorbent in arsenate removal from water. FESEM, PSD, and XRD employed in the examination of particles and their characterizations. Results showed that the particles were spherical lumped together in a texture structure with sizes ranging from 20 to 70 nanometers. All experiments were accomplished in a batch mode. Adsorption isotherm, adsorption kinetics, and the effects of pH, GT-NZVI dosage, and ultrasonic wave power on arsenate separation capabilities were explored. The results suggested that the arsenate removal efficiency enhanced with increasing GT-NZVI dosage. Increase in pH from 3 to approximately 6 leads to increase in the removal efficiency; however, increasing the pH further decreased the removal efficiency. The effect of ultrasonic power on As(V) removal was dependent on pH and NZVI dosages. The positive effect was more pronounced at low adsorbent dosages and acidic solution in which the As(V) removal efficiency improved with increasing ultrasonic power. However, in highly alkali solutions As(V) removal efficiency reduced with increasing ultrasonic power. The adsorption kinetics followed second order, while the adsorption isotherm was fitted best with Langmuir equation at a maximum capacity of 34.2 mg g−1.

Adsorption of hexavalent chromium from aqueous solution by modified corn stalk: a fixed-bed column study

Continuous fixed-bed column studies were carried out by using modified corn stalk (MCS) as an adsorbent for the removal of Cr(VI) from aqueous solution. The effect of various parameters like bed depths (1.4, 2.2 and 2.9 cm), flow rate (5, 10 and 15 mL/min), influent Cr(VI) concentrations (100, 200 and 300 mg/L) and influent solution pH (2.66, 4.91 and 5.66) was investigated. The exhaustion time increased with increase of bed depth, decrease of flow rate and influent concentration. The Adams-Bohart, Thomas and Yoon-Nelson models were applied to the adsorption under varying experimental conditions to predict the breakthrough curves and to evaluate the model parameters of the fixed-bed column that are useful for process design. The Thomas and Yoon-Nelson models were in good agreement with the experimental data. The MCS column study states the value of the excellent adsorption capacity for the removal of Cr(VI) from aqueous solution.

Iron and aluminium based adsorption strategies for removing arsenic from water

Arsenic is a commonly occurring toxic metal in natural systems and is the root cause of many diseases and disorders. Occurrence of arsenic contaminated water is reported from several countries all over the world. A great deal of research over recent decades has been motivated by the requirement to lower the concentration of arsenic in drinking water and the need to develop low cost techniques which can be widely applied for arsenic removal from contaminated water. This review briefly presents iron and aluminium based adsorbents for arsenic removal. Studies carried out on oxidation of arsenic(III) to arsenic(V) employing various oxidising agents to facilitate arsenic removal are briefly mentioned. Effects of competing ions, As:Fe ratios, arsenic(V) vs. arsenic(III) removal using ferrihydrite as the adsorbent have been discussed. Recent efforts made for investigating arsenic adsorption on iron hydroxides/oxyhydroxides/oxides such as granular ferric hydroxide, goethite, akaganeite, magnetite and haematite have been reviewed. The adsorption behaviours of activated alumina, gibbsite, bauxite, activated bauxite, layered double hydroxides are discussed. Point-of-use adsorptive remediation methods indicate that Sono Arsenic filter and Kanchan™ Arsenic filter are in operation at various locations of Bangladesh and Nepal. The relative merits and demerits of such filters have been discussed. Evaluation of kits used for at-site arsenic estimation by various researchers also forms a part of this review.

Removal of Trace Arsenic to Meet Drinking Water Standards Using Iron Oxide Coated Multiwall Carbon Nanotubes

This study presents the removal of trace level arsenic to meet drinking water standards using an iron oxide-multi-walled carbon nanotube (Fe-MWCNT) hybrid as a sorbent. The synthesis was facilitated by the high degree of nanotube functionalization using a microwave assisted process, and a controlled assembly of iron oxide was possible where the MWCNT served as an effective support for the oxide. In the final product, 11 % of the carbon atoms were attached to Fe. The Fe-MWCNT was effective in arsenic removal to below the drinking water standard levels of 10 µg L(-1). The absorption capacity of the composite was 1723 µg g(-1) and 189 µg g(-1) for As(III) and As(V) respectively. The adsorption of As(V) on Fe-MWCNT was faster than that of As(III). The pseudo-second order rate equation was found to effectively describe the kinetics of arsenic adsorption. The adsorption isotherms for As(III) and As(V) fitted both the Langmuir and Freundlich models.

Removal of arsenic from aqueous solution using pottery granules coated with cyst of Azotobacter and portland cement: characterization, kinetics and modeling

A new low cost adsorbents, pottery granules coated with cyst of Azotobacter and portland cement has been developed for aqueous arsenic removal. The developed granule is solid and porous structure forms a stable complex of Fe-Al-Si-O(2) allied with cyst biomass. Batch experiments were revealed that As removal was up to 96% using PGAC beads, whereas 65% by cyst biomass. Immobilization of cyst biomass to pottery granules through portland cement improved the stability of granules and adsorption capacity. Kinetics studies revealed that Langmuir isotherm was followed with a better correlation than the Freundlich isotherm and adsorption was first order diffusion controlled. Presence of Fe-Al-Si-O(2) and polysaccharide complex on the granule surface may be responsible for the adsorption of arsenic and preferentially binds to biomass containing composite than only biomass. Thus, this recently developed cost-effective novel biocomposite, PGAC granule can be used as household level to mitigate the arsenic problem.

Enzymatic detection of As(III) in aqueous solution using alginate immobilized pumpkin urease: optimization of process variables by response surface methodology

Urease immobilized on alginate was utilized to detect and quantify As(3+) in aqueous solution. Urease from the seeds of pumpkin (vegetable waste) was purified to apparent homogeneity by heat treatment and gel filtration (Sephadex G-200). Further enzyme was entrapped in 3.5% alginate beads. Urea hydrolysis by enzyme revealed a clear dependence on the concentration and interaction time of As(3+). The process variables effecting the quantitation of As(3+) was investigated using central composite design with Minitab 15 software. The predicted results were found in good agreement (R(2)=96.71%) with experimental results indicating the applicability of proposed model. The multiple regression analysis and ANOVA showed that enzyme activity decreased with increase of As(3+) concentration and interaction time. 3D plot and contour plot between As(3+) concentration and interaction time was helpful to predict residual activity of enzyme for a particular As(3+) at a particular time.

Iron oxide nanoparticle-assisted arsenic removal from aqueous system

Iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) can play a significant role in the cycling of heavy metals. Arsenite [As(III)] is highly toxic, mobile, and predominant species in arsenic-contaminated groundwater. IONPs have been synthesized and tested for the removal of As(III) from arsenic contaminated water. In this work, we synthesized IONPs, as a finely divided loose nanopowder, using a chemical method involving a dispersion of the metal cations (Fe3+) through polymer molecules of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) in an aqueous medium. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis confirmed the formation of a single phase rhombohedral crystal structure of R3c space group. Transmission electron microscopic images corroborate the result of IONPs of 45 nm average size and the rhombohedral shape. Selective experiments, conducted with an initial concentration of 0.25 ppm of As(III), have demonstrated the maximum As(III) adsorption capacity (96%) in 2.0 gL(- 1) IONPs in water at pH 4.5-7.5. At room temperature, the adsorption isotherm studies have revealed a better correlation with the Langmuir isotherm than the Freundlich isotherm. Characteristic surface hydrolysis of IONPs as = Fe-OH species has been studied in terms of the vibration bands. The results reveal that the removal of the As(III) species from water is associated with the As(III) adsorption onto the IONPs followed by a surface hydrolysis of the iron species.

Arsenic removal from real-life groundwater by adsorption on laterite soil

The adsorption characteristics of arsenic on laterite soil, a low-cost natural adsorbent, were studied in the laboratory scale using real-life sample. The studies were conducted by both batch and continuous mode. Laterite soil was found to be an efficient adsorbent for arsenic removal from the groundwater collected from arsenic affected area. The initial concentration of arsenic in the sample was 0.33 ppm. Under optimized conditions the laterite soil could remove up to 98% of total arsenic. The optimum adsorbent dose was 20 g/l and the equilibrium time was 30 min. Isotherm studies showed that the process is favorable and spontaneous. The kinetics showed that the removal of arsenic by laterite soil is a pseudo-second-order reaction. In the column study the flow rate was maintained at 1.49 m3/(m2 h). Using 10 cm column depth, the breakthrough and exhaust time found were 6.75 h and 19.0 h, respectively. Height of adsorption zone was 9.85 cm, the rate at which the adsorption zone was moving through the bed was 0.80 cm/h, and the percentage of the total column saturated at breakthrough was 47.12%. The value of adsorption rate coefficient (K) and the adsorption capacity coefficient (N) were 1.21 l/(mgh) and 69.22 mg/l, respectively. Aqueous NaOH (1 M) could regenerate the adsorbent, and the regenerated adsorbent showed higher efficiency.

Arsenic removal from an aqueous solution by modified A. niger biomass: batch kinetic and isotherm studies

Batch studies were conducted to examine the adsorption kinetics and adsorption capacity of iron oxide-coated biomass (IOCB) for As(III) and As(V). The optimum pH for As(V) and As(III) removal was found to be 6. The equilibrium time for removal of arsenic was found to be approximately 7h. The adsorption of As(V) on IOCB was rapid compared to that of As(III) adsorption. An increase in temperature (from 5 to 30 degrees C) was found to increase As(III) removal, whereas in the case of As(V), the removal increased with temperature from 5 to 10 degrees C, but remained relatively constant thereafter up to 30 degrees C. The pseudo-second order rate equation was found to describe better the kinetics of arsenic adsorption than other equations. The isotherm data for As(V) removal fitted better with the Langmuir equation compared with other tested models and the isotherm data for As(III) removal fitted better with Redlich-Peterson equation than other tested models. Iron oxide-coated fungal biomass (A. niger) was found to be efficient in removing arsenic from an aqueous solution.

Modeling and fixed bed column adsorption of As(V) on laterite soil

Laterite soil, an abundant locally available natural adsorbent, has been evaluated for As(V) removal from aqueous solutions in column mode operation. The column studies were conducted using columns of 10, 20, 30 cm bed depth with 2 cm internal diameter. Initial As(V) concentration was 0.5 mg/L and flow rate was 7.75 mL/min. Bohart and Adams sorption model was employed for the determination of different parameters like height of exchange zone, adsorption rate, time required for exchange zone to move, and the adsorption capacity. Effect of flow rate and initial concentration was studied. The adsorption capacity of the laterite soil for 0.5 mg/L of As(V) was found to be 62.32 mg/L, and the adsorption rate constant was 1.0911 L/mg h for the minimum bed depth of 8.47 cm. The column was designed by the BDST model. Freundlich isotherm model was used to compare the theoretical and experimental breakthrough profile in the dynamic process. The bed saturation obtained was 36-80%. Regeneration of the exhausted column was possible with 1M NaOH.