Water Treatment - Arsenic

Arsenic in Drinking Water

Studies have shown that people drinking well water with elevated levels of arsenic have higher risks of some diseases. Drinking well water with low to moderately elevated levels of arsenic over a long period of time may lead to chronic health effects, such as cancer.

Arsenic is a natural element found widely in the earth's crust. It typically occurs in one of two chemical forms: arsenic (III) or arsenite (As+3), and arsenic (V) or arsenate (As+5). Although both types are potentially harmful to human health, arsenite (As+3) is considered more toxic than arsenate (As+5).

It is important to note that arsenite is also much more difficult to remove with conventional treatment technology. Certain technologies are ineffective in removing it. For instance, anion exchange, activated alumina absorption and reverse osmosis will reduce arsenic (V), but do not effectively reduce arsenic (III). Few technologies can remove both types of arsenic adequately in a single treatment step.

Unlike other technologies such as ion exchange, the AdEdge process removes both common forms of arsenic, (V) and (III), without pre-oxidation or chemical pre-treatment. The spent media is non-hazardous waste and there is no need for post treatment of residuals prior to disposal; materials can be disposed in a solid waste disposal facility.

Literature:

• Arsenic in Groundwater
• Arsenic & Drinking Water

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