Title: Development of a portable filter for arsenic removal from drinking water

Authors: R.N. Prabhu, Ligy Philip

Addresses: Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Madras 600 036, Chennai, India. Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Madras 600 036, Chennai, India

Abstract: In the present study, different grades of indigenously available activated alumina (AA) were screened for their arsenic removal capacity. For both As(III) and As(V), A1 (Grade 1, 0.3-0.6 mm) activated alumina has shown better removal efficiency. The optimum pH for the adsorption phenomena was around 7.0. Chlorine at a dose of 20 mg/l could completely oxidize As(III) to As(V), which also assured the bacteriological quality of the water. Among various anions studied, sulfate seems to have maximum competition with arsenic for adsorption sites. A portable filter with a flow rate of 6 l/h and a contact time of 5 minutes could effectively be used for the treatment of arsenic contaminated water. The exhausted activated alumina could regenerate with 4% NaOH solution without much reduction in efficiency.

Keywords: activated alumina; adsorption; arsenic; desorption; portable filter.

DOI: 10.1504/IJW.2001.002064

International Journal of Water, 2001 Vol.1 No.2, pp.217-227

Published online: 18 Aug 2003 *

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