Removal of arsenic from water by different adsorbents

Abstract

Present study is carried out for the removal of As(III) from water using commonly available adsorbents such as sand, from Yamuna river (Delhi ), as well as from Ganga river (Kolkata), activated carbon, Hametite ore and sand -iron scrap mixture. All these adsorbents are used as received but sand and activated carbon which do not show much adsorption for As(III) are modified by treating with different metal ions in order to improve their adsorption efficiency. Results of the laboratory experiments under static conditions have confirmed that iron impregnated granular activated carbon (GAC), spherical activated carbon (SAC) as well as sand - iron scrap mixture have much promise as a medium for the removal of As(III) in drinking water. Various parameters like adsorbent dose, contact time, pH and arsenic concentration are optimized. A simple and economical domestic arsenic removal kit has been designed and successfully evaluated in the laboratory using sand-iron scrap mixture as media for the removal of arsenic from water.