Small-scale and household methods to remove arsenic from water for drinking purposes in Latin America

Abstract

Small-scale and household low-cost technologies to provide water free of arsenic for drinking purposes, suitable for isolated rural and periurban areas not connected to water networks in Latin America are described. Some of them are merely adaptation of conventional technologies already used at large and medium scale, but others are environmentally friendly emerging procedures that use local materials and resources of the affected zone. The technologies require simple and low-cost equipment that can be easily handled and maintained by the local population. The methods are based on the following processes: combination of coagulation/flocculation with adsorption, adsorption with geological and other low-cost natural materials, electrochemical technologies, biological methods including phytoremediation, use of zerovalent iron and photochemical processes. Examples of relevant research studies and developments in the region are given. In some cases, processes have been tested only at the laboratory level and there is not enough information about the costs. However, it is considered that the presented technologies constitute potential alternatives for arsenic removal in isolated rural and periurban localities of Latin America. Generation, handling and adequate disposal of residues should be taken into account in all cases.

Making Fe0-Based Filters a Universal Solution for Safe Drinking Water Provision

“…Selected aspects of the corresponding literature have been reviewed [26,30,66] and actualized [27][28][29]50,67]. However, a complete review is still missing and information regarding the efficiency of Fe 0 filters for As removal is still conflicting [52,65].…”

“…Despite the successful introduction of SONO filters [24,51] using solely a porous iron composite matrix (no oxidizing agent), it is still correctly reported that Fe 0 filters are not "as efficient for As III removal as for As V removal" [52]. Preliminary chemical oxidation of As III is still suggested, tested and used [65][66][67][68][69][70]. However, the use of any chemical undermines the frugality of the technology.…”

Study of the Adsorption of Arsenic (III and V) by Magnetite Nanoparticles Synthetized via AACVD

“…With the line scans it was possible to determine the overall As distribution on the surface of a single MNP. These results suggested that most of the crystals forming the MNP contributed in the adsorption process, attraping several As ions 32,33 .…”

Arsenic exposure in drinking water: an unrecognized health threat in Peru

“…21 The Pan American Center for Sanitary Engineering and Environmental Sciences, in Peru, has developed a household-level coagulant using aluminium sulfite and ferric chloride, called ALUFLOC, to remove natural arsenic in groundwater. 22,23 But the extent of use of this product in Peru is unknown.…”