As(III) removal from aqueous solution by katoite (Ca₃Al₂(OH)₁₂)

As (III) is widely distributed in groundwater which is relatively harder to be removed comparing to As (V). Co-grinding Ca(OH)₂ with Al(OH)₃ was conducted to manufacture katoite (Ca₃Al₂(OH)₁₂) for the complete removal of As(III) (concentration below drinking water standard of WHO (<10 ppb)) during one-step agitation operation. X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), thermogravimetric analysis (TG), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were applied for the illustration of adsorption mechanism. Katoite could intercalate As(III) into the layered space forming arsenite pillared Ca-Al layered double hydroxide (LDH). The coexisting anions such as Cl^-, SO₄^2-, and NO₃^- had minor effects on As (III) removal performance using katoite. Techno-economic analysis demonstrated the feasibility of large-scale katoite production and its practical application for As(III) polluted groundwater purification, especially in the undeveloped areas where groundwater was used as irrigation and drinking water.