Removal of Arsenate from Aqueous Solution by Cambodian Laterite
    1. ITC

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Received: January 20,2024 / Revised: Accepted: January 21,2024 / Published: June 01,2016

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 The presence of high arsenic content in groundwaters in Kandal, Cambodia has threatened about 1 million people and several people have already been exposed to arsenic. This study aims to investigate the removal of arsenic from Kandal groundwater by utilizing naturally available laterite from Kampong Cham in order to obtain safe drinking water for the people. The laterites were characterized with XRD, XRF, zeta potential analyzer, and surface area analyzer. Arsenic batch adsorption experiment onto laterite was conducted under ambient temperature and effects of adsorbent dose, contact time, initial As, pH and, PO43- were  examined. The Geochemists’ Workbench  tool,  a geochemical  code, was used in order to model the experimental results. Groundwaters were synthesized doped with 1.5 mg/L arsenate. The preliminary results showed that 12.5 g/L of the laterite which consists of 32.9% of goethite could uptake 99% of arsenate within 40 minutes of contact time at neutral pH. The input of PO43- into the solution could lead to decrease of arsenic removal efficiency. Moreover, using the GWB code, the minimum dose of laterite to completely adsorb 1.5 mg/L arsenate is only 0.15 g/L. The availability of laterite in Kampong Cham must be considered to remove arsenic from Kandal groundwaters.