TECHNICAL PAPERS
May 1, 1997

Arsenic Removal during Precipitative Softening

Publication: Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 123, Issue 5

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.

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Go to Journal of Environmental Engineering
Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 123Issue 5May 1997
Pages: 453 - 460

History

Published online: May 1, 1997
Published in print: May 1997

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Authors

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Laurie S. McNeill
Grad. Student, Dept. of Civ., Envir., and Arch. Engrg., Univ. of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309-0428.
Marc Edwards
Asst. Prof., Dept. of Civ., Envir., and Arch. Engrg., Univ. of Colorado, Boulder, CO.

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