Arsenic removal from drinking water during coagulation

Journal Article · Fri Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 1997 · Journal of Environmental Engineering

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9372(1997)123:8(800)· OSTI ID:538173

Hering, J G ^[1]; Chen, P Y ^[2]; Wilkie, J A; Elimelech, M ^[3]

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1. California Inst. of Tech., Pasadena, CA (United States)
2. Industrial Technology Research Inst., Chutung Hsinchu (Taiwan, Province of China)
3. Univ. of California, Los Angeles, CA (United States). Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering

The efficiency of arsenic removal from source waters and artificial freshwaters during coagulation with ferric chloride and alum was examined in bench-scale studies. Arsenic(V) removal by either ferric chloride or alum was relatively insensitive to variations in source water composition below pH 8. At pH 8 and 9, the efficiency of arsenic(V) removal by ferric chloride was decreased in the presence of natural organic matter. The pH range for arsenic(V) removal with alum was more restricted than with ferric chloride. For source waters spiked with 20 {micro}g/L arsenic(V), final dissolved arsenic(V) concentrations in the product water of less than 2 {micro}g/L were achieved with both coagulants at neutral pH. Removal of arsenic(III) from source waters by ferric chloride was both less efficient and more strongly influenced by source water composition than removal of arsenic(V). The presence of sulfate (at pH 4 and 5) and natural organic matter (at pH 4 through 9) adversely affected the efficiency of arsenic(III) removal by ferric chloride. Arsenic(III) could not be removed from source waters by coagulation with alum.

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• OSTI ID: 538173
• Journal Information: Journal of Environmental Engineering, Vol. 123, Issue 8; Other Information: PBD: Aug 1997
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ARSENIC
DRINKING WATER
REMEDIAL ACTION
WATER POLLUTION
FLOCCULATION
IRON CHLORIDES
FRESH WATER