title: Vinegar-amended anaerobic biosand filter for the removal of arsenic and nitrate from groundwater.
abstract: The performance of a vinegar-amended anaerobic biosand filter was evaluated for future application as point-of-use water treatment in rural areas for the removal of arsenic and nitrate from groundwater containing common ions. Due to the importance of sulfate and iron in arsenic removal and their variable concentrations in groundwater, influent sulfate and iron concentrations were varied. Complete removal of influent nitrate (50 mg/L) and over 50% removal of influent arsenic (200 μg/L) occurred. Of all conditions tested, the lowest median effluent arsenic concentration was 88 μg/L. Iron removal occurred completely when 4 mg/L was added, and sulfate concentrations were lowered to a median concentration <2 mg/L from influent concentrations of 22 and 50 mg/L. Despite iron and sulfate removal and the establishment of reducing conditions, arsenic concentrations remained above the World Health Organization's arsenic drinking water standard. Further research is necessary to determine if anaerobic biosand filters can be improved to meet the arsenic drinking water standard and to evaluate practical implementation challenges.
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States.
authors.forename: Kathryn V
authors.initials: KV
authors.lastname: Snyder
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States.
authors.forename: Tara M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Webster
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States.
authors.forename: Giridhar
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Upadhyaya
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States.
authors.forename: Kim F
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Hayes
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States. Electronic address: raskin@umich.edu.
authors.forename: Lutgarde
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Raskin
mesh_terms: D019342:Acetic Acid / Q000737:chemistry*; D000693:Anaerobiosis; D001151:Arsenic / Q000032:analysis*; D005374:Filtration; D060587:Groundwater; D007501:Iron / Q000032:analysis; D009566:Nitrates / Q000032:analysis*; D013431:Sulfates / Q000032:analysis; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*; D018508:Water Purification / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D009566:Nitrates; D013431:Sulfates; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D007501:Iron; D001151:Arsenic; D019342:Acetic Acid
keywords: Arsenic; Biosand filter; Nitrate; Point-of-use water treatment