Arsenic Removal During Precipitative Softening
Document Type
Article
Journal/Book Title/Conference
Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume
123
Issue
5
Publisher
American Society of Civil Engineering
Publication Date
1997
First Page
453
Last Page
460
Abstract
Because utilities with hard waters tend to have higher concentrations of arsenic, removal of arsenic via precipitative softening processes was investigated in the context of the more stringent proposed arsenic regulation. Arsenic removal can be facilitated by a variety of solids formed during softening including CaCO3, Mg(OH)2, Mn(OH)2, and Fe(OH)3. The extent of As(V) removal is decreased in the presence of orthophosphate and carbonate. As(III) removal is much lower than As(V) removal. At typical solids concentrations, arsenic removal followed a linear isotherm for CaCO3, Mg(OH)2, and Fe(OH)3, with constant percentage arsenic removal regardless of initial arsenic concentrations. However, for Mn(OH)2 solids arsenic removal was sensitive to arsenic concentrations. A framework for predicting arsenate removal when multiple solids form during softening is presented.
Recommended Citation
McNeill, L.S. and M. Edwards, “Arsenic Removal During Precipitative Softening,” Journal of Environmental Engineering, 123(5), 453-460, May 1997.