title: A comprehensive review on removal of arsenic using activated carbon prepared from easily available waste materials.
abstract: Arsenic contamination in water bodies is a serious problem and causes various health problems due to which US Environment Protection Agency (USEPA) set its maximum permissible limit of 10 ppb. The present review article starts with the removal of toxic arsenic using adsorbents prepared from easily available waste materials. Adsorbent either commercial or low-cost adsorbent can be used for arsenic removal but recent research was focused on the low-cost adsorbent. Preparation and activation of various adsorbents were discussed. Adsorption capacities, surface area, thermodynamic, and kinetics data of various adsorbents for As(III) and As(V) removal were compiled. Desorption followed by regeneration and reuse of adsorbents is an important step in adsorption and leads to economical process. Various desorbing and regenerating agents were discussed for arsenic decontamination from the adsorbent surface. Strong acids, bases, and salts are the main desorbing agents. Disposal of arsenic-contaminated adsorbent and arsenic waste was also a big problem because of the toxic and leaching effect of arsenic. So, arsenic waste was disposed of by proper stabilization/solidification (S/S) technique by mixing it in Portland cement, iron, ash, etc. to reduce the leaching effect.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology (Banaras Hindu University), Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, 221005, India. mkmondal13@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Monoj Kumar
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Mondal
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology (Banaras Hindu University), Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, 221005, India.
authors.forename: Ravi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Garg
mesh_terms: D000327:Adsorption; D001151:Arsenic; D002606:Charcoal; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D018508:Water Purification
chemical_list: D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D002606:Charcoal; D001151:Arsenic
keywords: Adsorbents; Adsorption; Arsenic; Desorption; Disposal; Regeneration