Factors Influencing Arsenite Removal by Zero-Valent Iron
Publication: Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 132, Issue 11
Abstract
The effects of pH, alkalinity, and mass transfer efficiency on the removal of arsenite [As(III)] by zero-valent iron (ZVI) were evaluated in this study. The optimum pH range for removal of As(III) was found to be between 7 and 8. As(III) removal varied with salinity, pH, alkalinity conditions, and As(III) concentration. Degradation of As(III) removal performance was observed only under conditions of high alkalinity and arsenic concentrations [alkalinity CaCO3/L and As(III)]. A strong correlation between As(III) removal and increasing Reynolds number in batch testing suggests that mass transfer efficiency plays an important role in the removal of As(III) by ZVI. A diffusion-limited adsorption model was used to describe the removal of As(III) as the result of adsorption to precipitated iron oxides generated from ZVI corrosion. After an initial period of As(III) rapid adsorption to surface rusts formed during manufacturing and exposure to air, As(III) removal rate is most likely controlled by the rate of iron corrosion and the diffusion of As(III) to adsorption sites in ZVI/iron oxides.
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Acknowledgments
The writers would like to gratefully acknowledge Ms. Jing Bai for her assistance during the development of model as well as E. I. Dupont de Nemours & Co., Inc., for their financial support.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 132 • Issue 11 • November 2006
Pages: 1459 - 1469
Copyright
© 2006 ASCE.
History
Received: Jan 19, 2005
Accepted: Mar 17, 2006
Published online: Nov 1, 2006
Published in print: Nov 2006
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