Concept for an integrated evaluation of arsenic removal technologies: demonstrated in a case study

A concept for a technical, ecological and economical evaluation of arsenic removal technologies is introduced and demonstrated on the basis of three alternative arsenic removal processes, direct filtration with FeCl₃, adsorptive filtration with FeSO₄ and adsorption on granulated ferric hydroxide, which were tested in a case study. A set of evaluation criteria is worked out and discussed with regard to the case study. Further, a multi criteria decision support instrument is described and used for identifying the preferential arsenic removal process. The ranking of the analysed alternatives is presented. The results base on the data of a full scale treatment plant of a water supplier in the Lower Saxony, Germany. The adsorption on granulated ferric hydroxide is ranked as preferential process - alternative for arsenic removal on the conditions of the case study.