Arsenic speciation analysis and remediation techniques in drinking water

Abstract

Abstract Arsenic is present in environment in trace amounts in rocks, soil, water and air but its toxicity effects are highly dependent on its chemical forms; inorganic and organic. There is a direct association between elevated arsenic exposure through drinking water and prevalence of different types of cancers. Present review describes the brief account of arsenic chemistry with reference to water and environment which is relevant to its toxicity arising out of different arsenic species and finally its remediation technologies. The quantification of arsenic species is difficult owing to the low concentration of arsenic in drinking water which is relatively lower than detection limits of modern analytical methods. New hyphenated techniques with more advanced tools have therefore, been discussed in the present paper which are being used in arsenic speciation analysis. The present review also highlights the importance to identify and quantify each chemical species of arsenic as more than 20 arsenic compoun...