Abstract
Arsenic-contaminated waters can be remediated by adsorption of the As onto an amorphous Al(OH)3 sludge precipitated using poly-aluminium chloride, which is a widely used, very effective polymeric coagulant. Investigation of the atomic near-range order and structure of As adsorbed to this sludge using X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy showed that the EXAFS spectrum of the sludge samples is very similar to that of mansfieldite (AlAsVO4·2H2O), indicating that As in the sludge is present as AsV, and that the atomic near-range structure of As is similar in the two materials. In the sludge, the first As–O coordination shell is populated with ∼4 oxygen neighbours at 1.70±0.01Å, and As has ∼2 Al neighbours at 3.18±0.02Å, consistent with bidentate binuclear As–O–Al bonding (two O atoms from an AsO4 unit bonded individually to two Al atoms). Previous studies have shown that As bonding on crystalline Al oxides and hydroxides is also bidentate binucleate, contrasting with the variable As bonding on ferric oxy-hydroxides. In particular, the bidentate mononucleate bonding reported for As sorption on amorphous ferric oxy-hydroxide sludges suggests that As is more strongly bonded to Al(OH)3 sludges. The latter may, therefore, have an advantage over ferric oxy-hydroxide coagulants for treatment of As-enriched waters.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
