Remediation of arsenic from drinking water

CHED 1437

Laura Rose Condon, lrcond08@holycross.edu1, Jane M. Van Doren, jvandore@holycross.edu1, and James F. Hauri Jr., jhauri@assumption.edu2. (1) Department of Chemistry, College of the Holy Cross, 1 College Street, Worcester, MA 01610, (2) Department of Natural Sciences, Assumption College, 500 Salisbury St., Worcester, MA 01609
Arsenic contaminated drinking water is moving to the forefront of environmental concerns nation- and worldwide. Contamination of groundwater occurs naturally through the dissolution of arsenic in bedrock. Adsorption of arsenic on iron hydroxide is the basis of a new method for removing arsenic from drinking water. Experiments studied the adsorption process on a molecular level using rusted iron filings and different concentrations of arsenic. Arsenic III and V species were separately tested for efficiency. These data suggest that both species follow the Langmuir model of adsorption and that arsenic III has more available adsorption sites. The iron hydroxide remediation method was compared to standard flocculation technique for effectiveness. These data have been used to develop a physical chemistry laboratory studying adsorption. Small filters containing rusted iron nails and sand were created for use in an environmental class to demonstrate how this inexpensive strategy could be used throughout the world.