Removal of arsenic from synthetic acid mine drainage by electrochemical pH adjustment and coprecipitation with iron hydroxide

Revealing the role of calcium alginate-biochar composite for simultaneous removing SO42- and Fe3+ in AMD: Adsorption mechanisms and application effects

The remediation of acid mine drainage (AMD) is particularly challenging because it contains a large amount of Fe³⁺ and a high concentration of SO₄^2-. To reduce the pollution caused by SO₄^2- and Fe³⁺ in AMD and realize the recycling of solid waste, this study used distillers grains as raw materials to prepare biochar at different pyrolysis temperatures. Calcium alginate-biochar composite (CA-MB) was further synthesized via the entrapment method and used to simultaneously remove SO₄^2- and Fe³⁺ from AMD. The effects of different influencing factors on the sorption process of SO₄^2- and Fe³⁺ were studied through batch adsorption experiments. The adsorption behaviors and mechanisms of SO₄^2- and Fe³⁺ were investigated with different adsorption models and characterizations. The results showed that the adsorption process of CA-MDB600 on SO₄^2- and Fe³⁺ could be well described by Elovich and Langmuir-Freundlich models. It was further proved by the site energy analysis that the adsorption mechanisms of SO₄^2- onto CA-MDB600 were mainly surface precipitation and electrostatic attraction, while that of Fe³⁺ removal was attributed to ion exchange, precipitation, and complexation. The applications of CA-MDB600 in actual AMD proved its good application potential. This study indicates that CA-MDB600 could be applied as a promising eco-friendly adsorbent for the remediation of AMD.

Sustainable utilization of water treatment residue as a porous geopolymer for iron and manganese removals from groundwater

Raw water is a significant resource for industrial water usage, but this water is not directly suitable for use due to the presence of contaminants. Therefore, pre-treatment is essential. The treatment generates water treatment residue (WTR) which consists of silt, clay and undesirable components. Most WTR is conventionally disposed of in landfill. In addition, the presence of iron (Fe) and manganese (Mn) in groundwater can result in a reddish-brown color and undesirable taste and odour. A number of expensive and complex technologies are being used for the removal of such iron and manganese. Due to the high Al₂O₃ and SiO₂ content in WTR, therefore, this research proposes the use of WTR as the source material for geopolymer production for Fe/Mn removal. With the availability of free alkali in the geopolymer framework, the OH^--releasing behavior of the WTR-based geopolymer was investigated by the precipitation of Fe(II) ion. The WTR-based geopolymer was calcined at 400 °C and 600 °C to obtain a strong geopolymer matrix with the ability to remove Fe/Mn ions. The results show that the WTR-based geopolymer has the potential to remove Fe from Fe-contaminated water. Hydroxide ions are released from the geopolymer and form an Fe(OH)₃ precipitate. Geopolymer with a calcination temperature of 400 °C provides total removal of the Fe after 24 h of immersion. In addition, the existence of Fe(OH)₃ helps to coprecipitate the Mn(OH)₂ in the Fe/Mn solution leading to a significant reduction of Mn from the solution. The pH value and retention time play an important role in the final metal concentration. The final pH of the solution is close to 8.5, which is the recommended value for boiler water. This method offers an alternative use of WTR in making a porous geopolymer for groundwater Fe/Mn removal using a simple method.

Partitioning and transformation behavior of arsenic during Fe(III)-As(III)-As(V)-SO42- coprecipitation and subsequent aging process in acidic solutions: Implication for arsenic mobility and fixation

The coprecipitation and subsequent aging of Fe(III)-As(III)-As(V)-SO₄^2- play an important role in controlling As behavior in acidic systems, such as acid mine drainage and hydrometallurgical acid waste. In this study, we investigated the redistribution and transformation of As in the Fe(III)-As(III)-As(V)-SO₄^2- system (As(III)/As(V) ≈ 1) at different Fe/As molar ratios (i.e., 0.25, 0.5, and 1) and pH (1.2 and 1.8) at 60 °C. The results showed that As(III) and SO₄^2- can be incorporated into the amorphous ferric arsenate and scorodite host phases by forming a Fe(AsO₄)_x(AsO₃)_y(SO₄)_z solid solution. As(III) contents in the freshly coprecipitated solids increased with pH and initial As(III) concentrations. During aging process, As(III) contents in the solid products with Fe/As molar ratios of 0.5 and 1 increased with aging time at pH 1.8. In contrast, As(III) was gradually expelled from aging products with aging time at pH 1.2, regardless of Fe/As molar ratio. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), and Raman spectroscopy characterization results showed that an As(III)-SO₄^2--doped scorodite was formed at Fe/As molar ratio ≤0.5 during the aging process. It was also found that As(III) had an inhibitory effect on the transformation of poorly crystalline ferric arsenate to scorodite. The present study may have important implications for understanding the geochemical cycle of As, Fe, and SO₄^2- in acidic solutions and give further understanding on the mechanisms involved in As removal and fixation in hydrometallurgical unit operations.

Reduction of bioaccessibility of As in soil through in situ formation of amorphous Fe oxides and its long-term stability

The bioaccessibility of As in soil, rather than its total concentration, is closely related to its potential risk. In this study, the in situ formation of amorphous Fe oxides was applied to As-contaminated soil to induce As-Fe coprecipitates that can withstand the gastric digestion condition of human beings. To promote the formation of Fe oxides, 2% ferric nitrate (w/w) and 30% water (v/w) were introduced, and the pH was adjusted to ~7. The chemical extractability of As in soil was determined using the solubility/bioavailability research consortium method and five-step sequential extraction. In situ formation of Fe oxides resulted in a remarkable increase in the As associated with amorphous Fe oxides, decreasing most of the exchangeable As (i.e., the sum of SO₄^2- and PO₄^3- extractable As), and thereby reducing the bioaccessibility of As. The types of association between As and Fe oxides were investigated using X-ray absorption spectroscopy analysis. Linear combination fit (LCF) analysis demonstrated that As bound to amorphous Fe oxides could exist as coprecipitates with ferrihydrite and schwertmannite after stabilization. The bioaccessibility of the coprecipitated As in soil further decreased as amorphous Fe oxides transformed to crystalline form with time, which was supported by the LCF results showing an increase of goethite in aged soil.

Coupled As and Mn Redox Transformations in an Fe(0) Electrocoagulation System: Competition for Reactive Oxidants and Sorption Sites

Iron electrocoagulation (EC) can be used for the decentralized treatment of arsenic(As)-contaminated groundwater. Iron EC involves the electrolytic dissolution of an Fe(0) electrode to Fe(II). This process produces reactive oxidants, which oxidize As(III) and Fe(II) to As(V) and a range of Fe(III) (oxyhydr)oxide phases. Here, we investigated the impact of manganese (Mn) on As removal, since the two often co-occur in groundwater. In the absence of Mn(II), we observed rapid As(III) oxidation and the formation of As(V)-Fe(III) polymers. Arsenic removal was achieved upon aggregation of the As(V)-Fe(III) polymers. In the presence of Mn, the mechanism of As removal varied with pH. At pH 4.5, As(III) was oxidized rapidly by OH^• and the aggregation of the resulting As(V)-Fe(III) polymers was enhanced by the presence of Mn. At pH 8.5, As(III) and Mn(II) competed for Fe(IV), which led As(III) to persist in solution. The As(V) that did form was incorporated into a mixture of As(V)-Fe(III) polymers and a ferrihydrite-like phase that incorporated 8% Mn(III); some As(III) was also sorbed by these phases. At intermediate pH values, As(III) and Mn(II) also competed for the oxidants, but Mn(III) behaved as a reactive intermediate that reacted with Fe(II) or As(III). This result can explain the presence of As(V) in the solid phase. This detailed understanding of the As removal mechanisms in the presence of Mn can be used to tune the operating conditions of Fe EC for As removal under typical groundwater conditions.

Involute the reactivity of persulfate with zero-valent iron for enhanced removal of arsenic (V) in aspect involvement of Fe2+ or Fe3

Being a fundamental issue regarding sewage treatment, heavy metals removal from industrial effluents has been subject to intense scrutiny in both the academic and practical worlds. The removal of pentavalent arsenic (As(V)), one of the most poisonous pollutants, was investigated using a sodium persulfate and iron powder system activated by ferrous ions (Fe²⁺-ZVI-PS). As(V) could be effectively removed by an Fe²⁺-ZVI-PS system in a timely fashion (minute scale) with high removal rates (more than 90.0%) over a wide range of pH (1-9) and concentration (20-100 mg/L). The removal of As(V) by the Fe²⁺-ZVI-PS system integrated favorably with the pseudo-second-order reaction kinetics. Researches on X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) demonstrated that the Fe²⁺-ZVI-PS system enables the removal of As(V) through the process of co-precipitation and adsorption. Our findings thus emphasized that the Fe²⁺-ZVI-PS system should be an effective trigger to purifying arsenic from the environment. Our results indicated that the Fe²⁺-ZVI-PS system could be an effective candidate for remediation of arsenic in the environment.

Adsorption and oxidation of arsenic by two kinds of β-MnO2

MnO₂ is one of the most widespread and cheapest materials in nature that can both adsorb arsenic and oxidize arsenite [As(III)] to arsenate [As(V)]. In this study, column β-MnO₂ [CM] with the main facet of {110} and pincer β-MnO₂ [PM] with the facets of {110} and {101} are synthesized and used to remove arsenic in water under different conditions. For the adsorption process, the experimental data are fitted well with the pseudo second-order kinetic model; the Langmuir model is better than the Freundlich model to describe the adsorption equilibrium isotherms. Furthermore, the As(III) oxidation rate can be denoted by the pseudo zero-order kinetic model and is related to the O₂ concentration, the pH value, the light source and the initial concentration of As(III). Finally, the oxidation mechanism is investigated, and the oxidant should be related to O₂. It is interesting to find that these two kinds of β-MnO₂ exhibit different pH effects for both adsorption and oxidation. For As(III), the adsorption and oxidation abilities of CM follow the order pH 9 > pH 7 > pH 4, whereas the adsorption and oxidation orders of PM are pH 4 > pH 7 > pH 9.

A new efficient indigenous material for simultaneous removal of fluoride and inorganic arsenic species from groundwater

The contaminated groundwater is one of emerging environmental issue in Pakistan and biosorbent considered to be the best alternative to improve the quality of groundwater. Thus, an indigenous biosorbent, Cucumis pubescens (peel of fruit) has been carried out efficiently for simultaneous removal of arsenic species and fluoride from groundwater. The characterization of bio-sorbent for removal of As species (As^III, As^V) and F^- was studied by FTIR spectroscopy and SEM. Batch experiments were carried out for the optimization of adsorption capacity at different parameters such as pH (3-11), concentration of biosorbates (100-500 μg/L) for As species and F^- ion), biosorbent dose (2-6 g/L), contact time (10-60 min) and temperature (303-323 K). The influence of common ions was also investigated. The different biosorption isotherms were applied to determine the most appropriate equilibrium curves for the removal/biosorption of As species and F^- by a biosorbents. The mean sorption energy calculated from Dubinin-Radushkevich model, indicated chemisorptions phenomena. Thermodynamic parameters indicated the biosorption phenomena of As^III, As^V and F- ions were spontaneous and exothermic. The removal study of study analytes indicated that the sorption kinetics based on pseudo-second-order equation.

Nanospectroscopy Captures Nanoscale Compositional Zonation in Barite Solid Solutions

Scientists have long suspected that compositionally zoned particles can form under far-from equilibrium precipitation conditions, but their inferences have been based on bulk solid and solution measurements. We are the first to directly observe nanoscale trace element compositional zonation in <10 µm-sized particles using X-ray fluorescence nanospectroscopy at the Hard X-ray Nanoprobe (HXN) Beamline at National Synchrotron Light Source II (NSLS-II). Through high-resolution images, compositional zonation was observed in barite (BaSO₄) particles precipitated from aqueous solution, in which Sr²⁺ cations as well as HAsO₄^2- anions were co-precipitated into (Ba,Sr)SO₄ or Ba(SO₄,HAsO₄) solid solutions. Under high salinity conditions (NaCl ≥ 1.0 M), bands contained ~3.5 to ~5 times more trace element compared to the center of the particle formed in early stages of particle growth. Quantitative analysis of Sr and As fractional substitution allowed us to determine that different crystallographic growth directions incorporated trace elements to different extents. These findings provide supporting evidence that barite solid solutions have great potential for trace element incorporation; this has significant implications for environmental and engineered systems that remove hazardous substances from water.

A novel bioelectrochemical system for chemical-free permanent treatment of acid mine drainage

The mining sector is currently under unprecedented pressure due to stringent environmental regulations. As a consequence, a permanent acid mine drainage (AMD) treatment is increasingly being regarded as a desirable target with direct benefits for the environment and the operational and economic viability of the resources sector. In this study we demonstrate that a novel bioelectrochemical system (BES) can deliver permanent treatment of acid mine drainage without chemical dosing. The technology consists of a two-cell bioelectrochemical setup to enable the removal of sulfate from the ongoing reduction-oxidation sulfur cycle to less than 550 mg L^-1 (85 ± 2% removal from a real AMD of an abandoned silver mine), thereby also reducing salinity at an electrical energy requirement of 10 ± 0.3 kWh kg^-1 of SO₄^2--S removed. In addition, the BES operation drove the removal and recovery of the main cations Al, Fe, Mg, Zn at rates of 151 ± 0 g Al m^-3 d^-1, 179 ± 1 g Fe m^-3 d^-1, 172 ± 1 g Mg m^-3 d^-1 and 46 ± 0 g Zn m^-3 d^-1 into a concentrate stream containing 263 ± 2 mg Al, 279 ± 2 mg Fe, 152 ± 0 mg Mg and 90 ± 0 mg Zn per gram of solid precipitated after BES fed-rate control treatment. The solid metal-sludge was twice less voluminous and 9 times more readily settleable than metal-sludge precipitated using NaOH. The continuous BES treatment also demonstrated the concomitant precipitation of rare earth elements together with yttrium (REY), with up to 498 ± 70 μg Y, 166 ± 27 μg Nd, 155 ± 14 μg Gd per gram of solid, among other high-value metals. The high-REY precipitates could be used to offset the treatment costs.

Dynamics of Chromium(VI) Removal from Drinking Water by Iron Electrocoagulation

The potential for new U.S. regulations for Cr(VI) in drinking water have spurred strong interests in improving technologies for Cr(VI) removal. This study examined iron electrocoagulation for Cr(VI) removal at conditions directly relevant to drinking water treatment. Cr(VI) is chemically reduced to less soluble Cr(III) species by the Fe(II) produced from an iron anode, and XANES spectra indicate that the Cr is entirely Cr(III) in solid-phases produced in electrocoagulation. The dynamics of Cr(VI) removal in electrocoagulation at pH 6 and pH 8 at both oxic and anoxic conditions can be described by a new model that incorporates Fe(II) release from the anode and heterogeneous and homogeneous reduction of Cr(VI) by Fe(II). Heterogeneous Cr(VI) reduction by adsorbed Fe(II) was critical to interpreting Cr(VI) removal at pH 6, and the Fe- and Cr-containing EC product was found to catalyze the redox reaction. Dissolved oxygen (DO) did not observably inhibit Cr(VI) removal because Fe(II) reacts with DO more slowly than it does with Cr(VI), and Cr(VI) removal was faster at higher pH. Even in the presence of common groundwater solutes, iron electrocoagulation lowered Cr(VI) concentrations to levels well below California's 10 μg/L.

MS title: Catalytic oxidation and removal of arsenite in the presence of Fe ions and zero-valent Al metals

Arsenic immobilization in acid mine drainage (AMD) is required prior to its discharge to safeguard aquatic organisms. Zero-valent aluminum (ZVAl) such as aluminum beverage cans (AlBC) was used to induce the oxidation of As(III) to As(V) and enhance the subsequent As removal from an artificially prepared AMD. While indiscernible As(III) oxidation was found in aerated ZVAl systems, the addition of 0.10-0.55mM Fe(II) or Fe(III) into the AMD significantly promoted the As(V) production. Reactions between Fe(II) and H2O2, which was produced through an oxidative reaction of ZVAl with dissolved oxygen, generated OH radicals. Such OH radicals subsequently induced the As(III) oxidation. Over the course of the Fenton like reaction, ZVAl not only directly generated the H2O2, but indirectly enhanced the OH radical production by replenishing Fe(II). Arsenite oxidation in the aerated ZVAl/Fe and AlBC/Fe systems followed zero- and first-order kinetics. Differences in the kinetic reactions of ZVAl and AlBC with respect to As(III) oxidation were attributed to higher productive efficiency of the oxidant in the AlBC systems. After the completion of As(III) oxidation, As(V) could be removed simultaneously with Al(III) and Fe(III) by increasing solution's pH to 6 to produce Al/Fe hydroxides as As(V) scavengers or to form Al/Fe/As co-precipitates.

Adsorptive removal of As(III) from aqueous solution by waste litchi pericarps

The present study investigated the removal of arsenite anions (AsO₃^3-, referred to as As(III)) from aqueous solutions by waste litchi pericarps (LPs). Influential factors such as the adsorbent dose, contact time, solution pH, and initial As(III) concentration were investigated. The optimum conditions for As(III) adsorption by the LPs occurred at a contact time of 60 min, adsorbent dose of 10.0 g/L, solution pH of 5.0, and initial As(III) concentration of 1 mg/L. A Box-Behnken design with three variables (adsorbent dose, contact time, and solution pH) at three different levels was studied to identify the correlations between the influential factors and the As(III) adsorption; the results showed a significant interaction between the adsorbent dosage and pH. Additionally, adsorption isotherms, kinetics, and thermodynamics were investigated to explore the As(III) adsorption mechanism. Adsorption by the LPs conformed to the Langmuir, Redlich-Peterson, and Koble-Corrigan isotherm models, suggesting that the process proceeds via monolayer, homogeneous adsorption. In addition, the As(III) adsorption could be characterized by a pseudo-second-order mechanism, revealing that the rate-limiting step might be chemisorption. The thermodynamic studies showed that As(III) adsorption by the LPs was spontaneous and endothermic, and disorder at the solid-liquid interface increased in the adsorption process.

Simultaneous As(III) and Cd removal from copper smelting wastewater using granular TiO₂ columns

Remediation of metallurgical industry wastewater has presented a great environmental challenge for decades. In this study, a complete remediation technology was proposed for simultaneous As(III) and Cd adsorptive removal, adsorbent regeneration, and recovery of As and Cd. Using three granular TiO₂ columns in series, As(III) and Cd in the raw water at 2590 ± 295 and 12 ± 2 mg/L, respectively, could be reduced to 0.16 ± 0.11 and 0.0133 ± 0.0134 mg/L, well below the wastewater discharge limit. Spent TiO₂ media could be regenerated using H₂SO₄ and NaOH, and the regenerated adsorbent could be re-used for at least 10 treatment cycles and 770 bed volumes with no decrease in its adsorption capacity. Remediation of 1 L wastewater generated 0.89-1.5 g solid residue which could be used as an intermediate for the As and Cd chemical refinement. The waste solution can be further treated after mixing with raw water to adjust the raw pH from 1.4 to 7. This adsorption, regeneration, and reuse process provides an innovative technology for metallurgical industry wastewater remediation that is promising for practical application.

A novel application of H2O2-Fe(II) process for arsenate removal from synthetic acid mine drainage (AMD) water

Batch experiments were carried out to investigate the influences of H(2)O(2)/Fe(II) molar ratio, pH, sequence of pH adjustment, initial As(V) concentration, and interfering ions on As(V) removal in H(2)O(2)-Fe(II) process from synthetic acid mine drainage (AMD). The optimum H(2)O(2)/Fe(II) molar ratio was one for arsenate removal over the pH range of 4-7. Arsenate removal at pH 3 was poor even at high Fe(II) dosage due to the high solubility of Fe(III) formed in situ. With the increase of Fe(II) dosage, arsenate removal increased progressively before a plateau was reached at pH 5 as arsenate concentration varied from 0.05 to 2.0mgL(-1). However, arsenate removal was negligible at Fe/As molar ratio <3 and then experienced a striking increase before a plateau was reached at pH 7 and arsenate concentration ≥1.0mgL(-1). The co-occurring ions exerted no significant effect on arsenate removal at pH 5. The experimental results with synthetic AMD revealed that this method is highly selective for arsenate removal and the co-occurring ions either improved arsenate removal or slightly depressed arsenate removal at pH 5-7. The extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) derived As-Fe length, 3.27-3.30Å, indicated that arsenate was removed by forming bidentate-binuclear complexes with FeO(OH) octahydra. The economic analysis revealed that the cost of the H(2)O(2)-Fe(II) process was only 17-32% of that of conventional Fe(III) coagulation process to achieve arsenate concentration below 10μgL(-1) in treated solution. The results suggested that the H(2)O(2)-Fe(II) process is an efficient, economical, selective and practical method for arsenate removal from AMD.

Surface complexation modeling of the removal of arsenic from ion-exchange waste brines with ferric chloride

Brine disposal is a serious challenge of arsenic (V) removal from drinking water using ion-exchange (IX). Although arsenic removal with ferric chloride (FeCl(3)) from drinking waters is well documented, the application of FeCl(3) to remove arsenic (V) from brines has not been thoroughly investigated. In contrast to drinking water, IX brines contain high ionic strength, high alkalinity, and high arsenic concentrations; these factors are known to influence arsenic removal by FeCl(3). Surface complexation modeling and experimental coagulation tests were performed to investigate the influence of ionic strength, pH, Fe/As molar ratios, and alkalinity on the removal of arsenic from IX brines. The model prediction was in good agreement with the experimental data. Optimum pH range was found to be between 4.5 and 6.5. The arsenic removal efficiency slightly improved with higher ionic strength. The Fe/As ratios needed to treat brines were significantly lower than those used to treat drinking waters. For arsenic (V) concentrations typical in IX brines, Fe/As molar ratios varying from 1.3 to 1.7 were needed. Sludge solid concentrations varying from 2 to 18 mg L(-1) were found. The results of this research have direct application to the treatment of residual wastes brines containing arsenic.

Simultaneous removal of arsenite and fluoride via an integrated electro-oxidation and electrocoagulation process

An integrated electro-oxidation and electrocoagulation system was designed and used to remove As(III) and F(-) ions from water simultaneously. Dimensionally stable anodes (DSA), Fe electrodes, and Al electrodes were combined into an electrochemical system. Two pieces of DSA electrodes were assigned as the outside of the Fe and Al electrodes and were directly connected to the power supply as anode and cathode, respectively. The Fe and Al ions were generated by electro-induced process simultaneously. Subsequently, hydroxides of Fe and Al were formed. Arsenic ions are mainly removed by iron hydroxides and F(-) ions are mainly removed by the Al oxides. At the initial concentration of 1.0 mg L(-1), most of As(III) was transferred into As(V) within 40 min at current density of 4 mA cm(-2), whereas F(-) ions can be efficiently removed simultaneously. The effect of the ratio of Fe and Al plate electrodes and current density on the removal of As(III) and F(-) was investigated. With one piece of Fe plate electrode and three pieces of Al plate electrodes, it is observed that As(III) with concentration of 1 mg L(-1) and F(-) with concentration of 4.5 mg L(-1) can be removed and their final concentrations were below the values of 10 μg L(-1) and 1.0 mg L(-1), respectively within 40 min. Removal efficiency of As(III) increases with the increase of solution pH. However, in the pH range of 6-7, removal efficiency of F(-) is the largest.

Arsenic removal from a high-arsenic wastewater using in situ formed Fe-Mn binary oxide combined with coagulation by poly-aluminum chloride

In this study, in situ formed Fe-Mn binary oxide (FMBO) was applied to treat a practical high-arsenic wastewater (5.81 mg/L). FMBO exhibited a remarkable removal capacity towards both As(III) and As(V), achieving a removal efficiency over 99.5%. However, the FMBO-As particles could not be sufficiently separated by gravitational sedimentation due to their low sizes and negative charges, as being indicated from laser particle size and zeta-potential analysis. Thus, poly-aluminum chloride (PACl) was introduced as a coagulant to facilitate the solid-liquid separation, and it remarkably improved As removal efficiencies. Results of scanning electron microscope (SEM) revealed that PACl contributed to the formation of precipitates with larger sizes and compact surfaces, which was favorable to sedimentation. Moreover, residual soluble As was removed by PACl hydroxides. The optimum dosages of FMBO and PACl were determined to be 60 mg/L and 80 mg/L, respectively. Additionally, the secondary pollution was minimized in FMBO-PACl process. Based on these bench-scale results, a full-scale treatment process was proposed to successfully treat 40,000 m(3) of high-arsenic wastewater in a municipal wastewater treatment plant (MWWTP). The average As concentration in the effluent was about 0.015 mg/L. FMBO-PACl process showed the advantages of high effectiveness, low cost, safety, and ease for operation.

Modified native cellulose fibers--a novel efficient adsorbent for both fluoride and arsenic

Native cellulose fibers were surface modified by poly(N,N-dimethyl aminoethyl methacrylate) (PDMAEMA) to generate an anion adsorbent, which was characterized by scanning electron microscopy, fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and elemental analyzer. This adsorbent had high efficiency in removal of F(-), AsO(2)(-) and AsO(4)(3-) from aqueous solutions, even at low initial concentrations. Adsorption kinetics showed that the adsorption equilibrium could be reached within 1 min. The distribution coefficient did not change with adsorbent dose, indicating the adsorption was a homogenous process. Langmuir, Freundlich and Temkin models were used to fit the adsorption isotherms. Based on the parameters calculated from the models, the adsorption capacity was in the order of AsO(4)(3-)≫AsO(2)(-)>F(-), and the adsorption was a favorable process. Compared with Freundlich and Temkin models, the isotherms followed Langmuir model a little better.

Arsenic removal and recovery from copper smelting wastewater using TiO2

Removal and recovery of high levels of arsenic (As) in copper smelting wastewater present a great environmental challenge. A novel approach was investigated for the first time using TiO(2) for As adsorptive removal from wastewater and subsequent spent adsorbent regeneration and As recovery using NaOH. EXAFS results demonstrate that As(III), as the only As species present in the raw water, does not form an aqueous complex with other metal ions. An average of 3890 ± 142 mg/L As(III) at pH 1.4 in the wastewater was reduced to 59 ± 79 μg/L in the effluent with final pH at 7 in the 21 successive treatment cycles using regenerated TiO(2). Coexisting heavy metals including Cd, Cu, and Pb with concentrations at 369 mg/L, 24 mg/L, and 5 mg/L, respectively, were reduced to less than 0.02 mg/L. As(III) adsorption followed pseudosecond-order rate kinetics, and the adsorption behavior was described with the charge distribution multisite surface complexation model. Approximately 60% As(III) in the waste solution after the TiO(2) regeneration process was recovered by thermo vaporization and subsequent precipitation of sodium arsenite, as suggested by the EDX and XPS analysis. This "zero" sludge process sheds new light on successful As remediation technology for acidic metallurgical industry wastewater.

Photochemical oxidation of As(III) by vacuum-UV lamp irradiation

In this study, vacuum-UV (VUV) lamp irradiation emitting both 185 and 254 nm lights has been investigated as a new oxidation method for As(III). Laboratory scale experiments were conducted with a batch reactor and a commercial VUV lamp. Under the experimental conditions of this study, the employed VUV lamp showed a higher performance for As(III) oxidation compared to other photochemical oxidation methods (UV-C/H(2)O(2), UV-A/Fe(III)/H(2)O(2), and UV-A/TiO2). The VUV lamp oxidized 100 microM As(III) almost completely in 10 min, and the reaction occurred mainly due to OH radicals which were produced by photo-splitting of water (H(2)O+hv (lambda=185 nm)-->OH.+H.). There was a little possibility that photo-generated H(2)O(2) acted as a minor oxidant of As(III) at alkaline pHs. The effects of Fe(III), H(2)O(2), and humic acid (HA) on the As(III) oxidation by VUV lamp irradiation were investigated. While Fe(III) and H(2)O(2) increased the As(III) oxidation efficiency, HA did not cause a significant effect. The employed VUV lamp was effective for oxidizing As(III) not only in a Milli-Q water but also in a real natural water, without significant decrease in the oxidation efficiency. Since the formed As(V) should be removed from water, activated alumina (AA) was added as an adsorbent during the As(III) oxidation by VUV lamp irradiation. The combined use of VUV lamp irradiation and AA was much more effective for the removal of total arsenic (As(tot)=As(III)+As(V)) than the single use of AA. The As(tot) removal seemed to occur as a result of the pre-oxidation of As(III) and the subsequent adsorption of As(V) on AA. Alternatively, the combination of VUV lamp irradiation and coagulation/precipitation with FeCl(3) was also an effective removal strategy for As(tot). This study shows that vacuum-UV (VUV) lamp irradiation emitting both 185 and 254 nm lights is a powerful and environmentally friendly method for As(III) oxidation which does not require additional oxidants or catalysts. The As(III) oxidation by VUV lamp irradiation was tested not only in a batch reactor but also in a flow-through quartz reactor. The As(III) oxidation rate became much faster in the latter reactor.

Adsorption studies of arsenic on Mn-substituted iron oxyhydroxide

Mn-substituted iron oxyhydroxide (Mn(0.13)Fe(0.87)OOH) was prepared by the oxidation of ferrous carbonate precipitated from ferrous sulfate and sodium carbonate solutions. X-ray diffraction analysis led to the conclusion that the sample was basically iron manganese hydroxide with bixbyite structure. The sample exhibited a surface area of 101 m2 g(-1) and a pore volume of 0.35 cm3 g(-1). Batch experiments were conducted to study the adsorption of arsenite and arsenate species onto Mn-substituted iron oxyhydroxide (MIOH) and adsorption equilibrium time was evaluated. The temperature of adsorption was varied from 30 to 60 degrees C. The maximum uptake of arsenite and arsenate was found to be 4.58 and 5.72 mg g(-1), respectively. Zeta potential measurements and FT-IR spectral studies were also conducted to study the nature of adsorption. In both cases, adsorption was best described by Langmuir isotherm and activation energies as calculated from a model-free isoconversional method were found to be on the order of 15-24 and 45-67 kJ mol(-1) for arsenate and arsenite, respectively.

Removal and recovery of metal ions from acid mine drainage using lignite--A low cost sorbent

Acid mine drainage (AMD), has long been a significant environmental problem resulting from the microbial oxidation of iron pyrite in presence of water and air, affording an acidic solution that contains toxic metal ions. The main objective of this study was to remove and recover metal ions from acid mine drainage (AMD) by using lignite, a low cost sorbent. Lignite has been characterized and used for the AMD treatment. Sorption of ferrous, ferric, manganese, zinc and calcium in multi-component aqueous systems was investigated. Studies were performed at different pH to find optimum pH. To simulate industrial conditions for acid mine wastewater treatment, all the studies were performed using single and multi-columns setup in down flow mode. The empty bed contact time (EBCT) model was used for minimizing the sorbent usage. Recovery of the metal ions as well as regeneration of sorbent was achieved successfully using 0.1 M nitric acid without dismantling the columns.

Single, binary, and multicomponent sorption of iron and manganese on lignite

Acid mine drainage (AMD) has long been a significant environmental problem resulting from the microbial oxidation of iron pyrite in the presence of water and air, affording an acidic solution that contains toxic metal ions. The main objective of this study was to remove metal ions [Fe(II), Fe(III), Mn(II), Zn(II)] from AMD using lignite, a low-cost adsorbent. The lignite sorbent was utilized for the sorption of ferrous, ferric, manganese, zinc, and calcium ions in aqueous solutions. Studies were performed at different pH to find optimum pH. Equilibrium isotherms were determined to assess the maximum adsorption capacity of lignite for different metal ions. Sorption capacities were compared in single, binary, ternary, and multicomponent systems. The sorption data are correlated with Freundlich and Langmuir isotherms in each system. Both Freundlich and Langmuir isotherms fit the data reasonably well in terms of regression coefficients. Sorption studies were also performed at different temperatures to obtain the thermodynamic parameters of the process. The maximum lignite adsorption capacities at 25 degrees C were 34.22, 25.84, and 11.90 mg/g for Fe(II), Mn(II), and Fe(III), respectively. Adsorption of Fe(2+) (24.70 mg/g at 10 degrees C and 46.46 mg/g at 40 degrees C) increased with increased temperature, while Mn(2+) adsorption (28.11 mg/g at 10 degrees C and 7.70 mg/g at 40 degrees C) decreased with increased temperature.

Mechanisms of arsenic attenuation in acid mine drainage from Mount Bischoff, western Tasmania

There is a dearth of research concerning the geochemistry of arsenic in acid mine drainage (AMD) in western Tasmania. To help address this, the controls on the mobility and fate of arsenic in AMD and its associated sediment at the Mount Bischoff mine site in western Tasmania were investigated. AMD issuing from the adit mouth contained dissolved arsenic and iron concentrations of 2.5 and 800 mg L(-1), respectively. The aqueous concentration of both arsenic and iron decreased markedly over a 150-m stretch from the adit mouth due to precipitation of hydrous ferric oxides (HFO) and jarosite, both of which are effective scavengers of arsenic. Microwave-assisted digestion of the sediment collected at the adit mouth revealed that the arsenic concentration exceeded 1%. Sequential extraction of this sediment showed that the bulk of arsenic was associated with amorphous and crystalline hydrous oxides of Al and/or Fe. Extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) analysis indicated that the solid phase arsenic exists as As(V). EXAFS data were consistent with arsenate tetrahedra substituting for sulphate in jarosite and with corner-sharing complexes adsorbed on ferric oxyhydroxide octahedra. Erosional transport of AMD sediment downstream to higher pH waters may increase the mobility (and hence bioavailablity) of arsenic through dissolution of As-rich jarosite.