Arsenic in groundwater is recognised as a threat to public health worldwide and specifically in rural areas of several developing countries (e.g. Bangladesh). Different treatment technologies are available or under investigation that, when properly operated, can reduce arsenic concentrations to a sufficiently low level. These technologies are inappropriate for rural communities in developing countries where arsenic-related problems are most pronounced, and where centralised water treatment facilities are frequently absent. Arsenic-related health hazards are associated with the use of arsenic-contaminated water for drinking and food preparation, corresponding to only 2–4 litres per capita per day. Arsenic removal in rural areas, where centralised water treatment and distribution facilities are unavailable, should consequently be carried out at household level and the system applied should be simple and affordable. Arsenic adsorption capacities of different virgin and iron-coated materials were first examined in batch adsorption experiments. Both iron-coated sand (ICS) and iron-impregnated granular activated carbon (IGAC) show high As(III) and As(V) adsorption capacities that decrease at high pH values. Three simple point-of-use systems, namely, a ‘tea bag’, a ‘coffee filter’ and a simple ‘family filter’, all with iron-coated sand or iron-impregnated granular activated carbon were tested. The ‘tea bag’ system was not successful because too long an adsorption time was required. The ‘coffee filter’ performed better, however, results obtained with the simple ‘family filter’ were most promising. The simple ‘family filter’ containing 2 litres of IGAC is expected to supply a family in rural Bangladesh with arsenic-free water for drinking and cooking for, on average, 18 months without adsorbent replacement.
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May 2002
This article was originally published in
Journal of Water Supply: Research and Technology-Aqua
Article Contents
Research Article|
May 01 2002
Adsorbent-based point-of-use system for arsenic removal in rural areas
B. Petrusevski;
B. Petrusevski
1International Institute for Infrastructura, Hydraulic and Environmental Engineering (IHE), P.O. Box 3015, 2601 DA, Delft, The Netherlands
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J. Boere;
J. Boere
2Norit Nederland B.V., P.O. Box 105, 3800 AC Amersfoort, The Netherlands
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S. M. Shahidullah;
S. M. Shahidullah
1International Institute for Infrastructura, Hydraulic and Environmental Engineering (IHE), P.O. Box 3015, 2601 DA, Delft, The Netherlands
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S. K. Sharma;
S. K. Sharma
1International Institute for Infrastructura, Hydraulic and Environmental Engineering (IHE), P.O. Box 3015, 2601 DA, Delft, The Netherlands
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J. C. Schippers
J. C. Schippers
3International Institute for Infrastructura, Hydraulic and Environmental Engineering (IHE), P.O. Box 3015, 2601 DA, Delft, The Netherlands and Kiwa N.V. Research and Consultancy, P.O. Box 1072, 3430 BB Nieuwegein, The Netherlands
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Journal of Water Supply: Research and Technology-Aqua (2002) 51 (3): 135–144.
Citation
B. Petrusevski, J. Boere, S. M. Shahidullah, S. K. Sharma, J. C. Schippers; Adsorbent-based point-of-use system for arsenic removal in rural areas. Journal of Water Supply: Research and Technology-Aqua 1 May 2002; 51 (3): 135–144. doi: https://doi.org/10.2166/aqua.2002.0011
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