Arsenic and Fluoride Removal Using Simple Materials

Abstract

Since many at risk to arsenic and fluoride contamination cannot afford or do not have access to modern, centralized water treatment facilities, simple and low-cost solutions must be found. Bone char, goethite coated sand (G-IOCS) and hematite coated sand (H-IOCS) were evaluated for treating water with elevated levels of arsenic and fluoride present individually or together. Results obtained were compared to conventional media used in developed countries; activated alumina and granular ferric oxide. Fluoride adsorption capacity was higher in bone char than in G-IOCS and H-IOCS. Fluoride removal was not affected by the presence of environmentally significant arsenic (III) and arsenic (V) concentrations. On a mass basis, bone char’s fluoride adsorption capacity was comparable to that of activated alumina both in the presence and absence of 0.25 mg/L of arsenic (III) and arsenic (V) in solution. Bone char also showed higher capacity to remove arsenic (III) and arsenic (V) from solution than both G-IOCS and H-...