The removal of arsenic from synthetic solution using a sand filter coupled with zero valent iron

Abstract

Contamination of groundwater with arsenic (As) poses a serious risk to public health, demanding the development of effective remediation technology. This study investigated the use of sand filters coupled with of zero-valent iron (ZVI) for removal of arsenic from synthetic solutions as the function of ZVI dosage and contact time. ZVI materials, including iron wool, iron fillings, and iron nails, were investigated and compared for their efficacy in removing As from synthetic solutions. The experiment employed synthetic solutions spiked with As compounds (set to be 1000 µg/L) to simulate contaminated groundwater scenarios. The concentrations of As in the influent and effluent samples were used to calculate the efficiency. The findings indicate that all three forms of ZVI tested exhibited significant As removal capabilities. Iron wool, iron fillings, and iron nails demonstrated varying efficiencies, likely influenced by their surface area, reactivity, and specific surface chemistry. According to the findings, iron wool-containing sand filter was more effective at removing As than iron filings and iron nails. As removal efficiency increased with increase in ZVI dose. The results show that As can effectively be removed from water in the first 48h. The highest removal efficiency was 99.6% and the lowest removal efficiency was 82.7%. These results suggest that ZVI materials could be promising candidates for practical applications in As-contaminated groundwater treatment systems. This study contributes valuable insights into the use of inexpensive and widely available ZVI materials for As remediation, highlighting their potential as sustainable solutions for addressing water quality challenges.