Removal of arsenic from water using the adsorbent: New Zealand iron-sand

Adsorption is a technology used to remove arsenic from water contaminated at levels above drinking water standards. In this study, New Zealand Iron-Sand (NZIS), a naturally-available adsorbent was investigated for its efficiency in removing both As (III) and As (V). Several batch tests were conducted with different concentrations of arsenic at different pH conditions. During the batch tests, the maximum adsorption of As (III) occurred at a pH of 7.5, while As (V) adsorption reached its maximum value at a pH of 3. Both Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption models were found to fit with R(2) values greater than 0.92. From the Langmuir adsorption model, the maximum adsorption capacity of NZIS for As (III) and As (V) were estimated to be 1,250 and 500 μg/g, respectively. These values were substantial enough to consider NZIS a promising new adsorbent for arsenic removal.