Is the Coagulation-Filtration Process with Fe(III) Efficient for As(III) Removal from Groundwaters?

Abstract

The coagulation–filtration process using Fe(III) salts is the most frequently practiced technology for As(V) removal in full scale water treatment plants. The co-existing As(III) is usually oxidized to As(V) prior to removal. Nonetheless, research studies applying high As(III) initial concentrations showed significant As(III) removal capacities, however, the efficiency of the process for initial As(III) concentrations commonly encountered in drinking water, i.e., 10-100 μg/L is not sufficiently investigated. The experimental results of this study indicated that the coagulation–filtration process using Fe(III) can safely meet the drinking water regulation limit of 10 μg/L, only when the initial As(III) concentration is < 25 μg/L and the Fe(III) dose ≥ 5 mg/L, for experiments performed with NSF challenge water. The limitations for efficient As(III) removal are attributed to the fact that As(III), under circumneutral pH values is mostly present with the uncharged H₃AsO₃ form, which is not efficiently adsorbed onto iron oxy hydroxides (FeOOH), the product of Fe(III) hydrolysis. Adsorption isotherms data were best fitted to BET model, indicating multi-layer adsorption and low affinity of As(III) for Fe(III) hydroxides.

Keywords:

• arsenic(III)
• coagulation
• Fe(III)
• drinking water
• BET type isotherms