Arsenic adsorbent derived from the ferromanganese slag

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Materials Science
• Water Treatment

Background:

• Arsenic-contaminated groundwater poses severe health risks.
• Arsenite (As(III)) is more toxic and mobile than arsenate (As(V)).
• Conventional methods struggle to remove arsenite effectively.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an efficient arsenic adsorbent from ferromanganese slag.
• To create a scalable method for arsenic removal.
• To investigate simultaneous oxidation and adsorption of arsenic species.

Main Methods:

• Chemically treating ferromanganese slag to create an adsorbent.
• Utilizing X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and X-ray absorption near edge spectra.
• Applying Langmuir isotherm and pseudo-second-order kinetic models.

Main Results:

• The adsorbent achieved 70 ± 5% oxidation of As(III).
• Maximum adsorption capacities were 1.010 ± 0.004 mg/g for As(III) and 1.614 ± 0.006 mg/g for As(V).
• As(III) adsorption rate was faster than As(V).

Conclusions:

• The treated ferromanganese slag is an effective adsorbent for arsenic decontamination.
• The adsorbent successfully oxidizes As(III) and adsorbs both arsenic species.
• Treated water quality complies with WHO and Indian drinking water standards.