Evaluating the performance of iron nanoparticle resin in removing arsenate from water

Abstract

This research was undertaken to evaluate the effectiveness of a hybrid sorbent resin (Lewatit FO36) with goethite structure for removing arsenate from water. Column experiments (with constant flow rate of 8 mL/min, corresponding to 2 min empty bed contact time (EBCT)) were conducted to evaluate the adsorption capacity of resin before and after regeneration and effects of chloride, sulfate, bicarbonate and combined competing ions for arsenate removal from water. The adsorption capacity was approximately 3.229 mg/g that was reduced to 2.826 mg/g after regeneration with 12.48% decrease, which indicates to a successful regeneration procedure. Chloride and sulfate ions had no significant effects on arsenate removal but arsenic removal decreased in the presence of bicarbonate and combined ions. This reduction may be due to the ability of bicarbonate ions in extracting and mobilizing the arsenate ions from iron oxyhydroxides. Results of this study showed that Lewatit FO36 could be developed as a suitable sorbent for arsenate removal.

Keywords:

• Arsenate
• hybrid sorbent
• Lewatit FO36
• goethite
• iron oxyhydroxide
• column experiments
• adsorption capacity
• anions effects

Acknowledgments

This study was funded by Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Department of Environmental Health Engineering (2009–2010).