Nanoparticulate Iron Oxide Minerals for Arsenic Removal from Contaminated Water

Abstract

Groundwater contamination with arsenic (As) is a global environmental and human health problem affecting over 200 million people worldwide, with low to high concentrations of As via drinking well water. Therefore, remediation of As-contaminated water has been under discussion over the last 3 to 4 decades given its highly toxic and carcinogenic properties of As compounds, particularly inorganic arsenite and arsenate species. Several types of sorption techniques have been used to remove As from water such as clay minerals, biochars, metal oxides (e.g., iron oxide minerals), microbes and algae. This chapter provides: (1) insights on the significance of nanoparticulate iron (Fe) oxide minerals (such as nano-ferrihydrite, nano-goethite, nano-magnetite) for their efficiency in the removal of As from contaminated water; (2) develops critical understanding for several As removal methods, compares their potential for As remediation, and critically examines the properties and effectiveness of nanoparticulate Fe oxide minerals to remove As in drinking water or wastewater; and (3) implication of the nanotechnology in remediation of As-rich water. This chapter also elucidated the mechanism of As removal using Fe-oxide nanoparticles in detail.