Arsenic(III) oxidation by iron(VI) (ferrate) and subsequent removal of arsenic(V) by iron(III) coagulation.
We investigated the stoichiometry, kinetics, and mechanism of arsenite [As(III)] oxidation by ferrate [Fe(VI)] and performed arsenic removal tests using Fe(VI) as both an oxidant and a coagulant. As(III) was oxidized to As(V) (arsenate) by Fe(VI), with a stoichiometry of 3:2 [As(III):Fe(VI)]. Kinetic studies showed that the reaction of As(III) with Fe(VI) was first-order with respect to both reactants, and its observed second-order rate constant at 25 degrees C decreased nonlinearly from (3.54 +/- 0.24) x 10(5) to (1.23 +/- 0.01) x 10(3) M(-1) s(-1) with an increase of pH from 8.4 to 12.9. A reaction mechanism by oxygen transfer has been proposed for the oxidation of As(III) by Fe(VI). Arsenic removal tests with river water showed that, with minimum 2.0 mg L(-1) Fe(VI), the arsenic concentration can be lowered from an initial 517 to below 50 microg L(-1), which is the regulation level for As in Bangladesh. From this result, Fe(VI) was demonstrated to be very effective in the removal of arsenic species from water at a relatively low dose level (2.0 mg L(-1)). In addition, the combined use of a small amount of Fe(VI) (below 0.5 mg L(-1)) and Fe(III) as a major coagulant was found to be a practical and effective method for arsenic removal.
Lee
Yunho
Y
School of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, Seoul National University, San 56-1, Shilim-dong, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 151-742, Korea.
Um
Ik-hwan
IH
Yoon
Jeyong
J
D001151:Arsenic / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D001459:Bangladesh; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D007501:Iron / Q000737:chemistry*; D007700:Kinetics; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D014873:Water Pollutants / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D018508:Water Purification / Q000379:methods*
D014873:Water Pollutants; C017311:ferrate ion; D007501:Iron; D001151:Arsenic