Removal of arsenate from groundwater by electrocoagulation method

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Water Treatment Technology
• Analytical Chemistry

Background:

• Arsenic contamination in drinking water poses a significant global health risk.
• Groundwater in regions like Ballia district, India, is affected by arsenate, necessitating effective removal strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the electrocoagulation method for arsenate removal from synthetic and natural groundwater.
• To optimize key parameters influencing arsenate removal efficiency.

Main Methods:

• Utilized electrocoagulation with iron and zinc as anode and cathode, respectively.
• Optimized parameters including initial arsenate concentration, pH, applied voltage, processing time, and temperature.
• Applied the developed method to groundwater samples from Ballia district, India.

Main Results:

• Achieved a maximum arsenate removal of 98.8% under optimized conditions (2.0 mg L(-1) arsenate, pH 7.0, 3.0 V, 10.0 min, 30°C).
• Demonstrated high method reproducibility with low relative standard deviation (1.50%-1.59%) and excellent model fit (r(2) 0.9996-0.9998%).
• Treated water was clear, odorless, and free from secondary contamination, with 100% removal achieved for Ballia district groundwater.

Conclusions:

• The electrocoagulation method is highly effective for complete arsenate removal from groundwater.
• Treated water meets safety standards for drinking, bathing, and recreational purposes.
• This eco-friendly technique presents a practical and preferred solution for natural groundwater arsenate remediation.