Influence of As(V) on bacteriophage MS2 removal by hematite in aqueous solutions

Abstract

In this study, the removal of MS2 by hematite in the absence and presence of As(V) was examined in batch experiments. The sorption tests demonstrate that As(V) could have a negative effect on MS2 removal by occupying sorption sites on hematite through competition with MS2, causing a decrease in MS2 removal. In the experiments (hematite dosages = 0.5–4.0 g L−1; reaction time = 4 h; MS2 concentration = 6.01 × 105 pfu mL−1), the percent removals of MS2 by hematite were in the range of 95.0–99.8%. In the presence of As(V) (=0.2 mg L−1), the percent removals of MS2 by hematite were 55–88% lower compared to removal in the absence of As(V). The inactivation of MS2 in an As(V) solution where no hematite was present was observed, showing that As(V) could have a positive effect on MS2 removal through the inactivation of MS2, resulting in an increase of MS2 removal. In the inactivation tests (reaction time = 4 h; As(V) concentration = 0.1–1.0 mg L−1; MS2 concentration = 3.68 × 105 pfu mL−1), the percent removals of MS2 were in the range of 4.1–11.1%. In another tests (reaction time = 6 h; As(V) concentration = 0.1–10 mg L−1; MS2 concentration = 4.10 × 105 pfu mL−1), the percent removals were in the range of 2.2–20.1%. This study demonstrates that As(V) mainly has a negative effect on MS2 removal by hematite through the competitive sorption, but a positive effect of As(V) via the inactivation of MS2 cannot be neglected.