Electrocoagulation for Arsenic Removal: Field Trials in Rural West Bengal

Arsenic contamination in drinking water is a great concern in different regions of the world as well as in India. Several technologies have been investigated to remove arsenic from water, such as coagulation and co-precipitation, ion exchange, adsorption, and reverse osmosis. In the present research, electrocoagulation with iron electrodes has been assessed as a treatment technology for arsenic removal from groundwater to reach concentrations below 0.01 mg/L (WHO limit) and which is technically effective, affordable for the local area, and easy to operate and maintain. Electrochemically generated iron is converted to hydrated ferric oxide within the contaminated water, which takes up the arsenic from water. A downstream filtration unit (sand or activated alumina) is applied to remove ferric hydroxide flocs produced during the process. The laboratory experiments were conducted in a batch reactor using iron plates as electrodes with monopolar configuration to study the effects of initial pH and electro-charge loading (ECL) on arsenic removal. The optimum operating condition was observed for an electro-charge loading of 25-30 Coulombs/L at pH 7.0 and an initial arsenic concentration of 0.2 mg/L. Two field trials were implemented in West Bengal after suitably designing the electrocoagulation system. Arsenic removal was significant (75-80%) delivering safe water with arsenic below 0.01 mg/L (acceptable limit). Passivation of the electrodes occurred during the operation and calcium-based (including iron) deposition was observed on the cathodes. Passivation is avoidable after running regular polarity reversal of the electrodes.