Treatment and management of metal-contaminated waters and wastes

 

We have investigated the problem arising from the coexistence of arsenic and organic substances principally in the US Superfund Sites and elsewhere. Dissolved organic ions are strong competitors to arsenates, and because of their large size and slow kinetics, arsenic removal becomes problematic. Optimum conditions for regeneration of macroporous media were determined. Waste handling processes were developed to treat and reuse spent regeneration solutions as well as to detoxify the solid waste containing arsenic and organic matter. A reagent based technology for the treatment of spent regeneration solutions by Ca(OH)₂ and MgCl₂ (or MgSO₄) was devised. Based on the results, appropriate decontamination schemes were developed for groundwater contaminated with arsenic and organic impurities.

Preliminary tests for arsenic removal by anion exchange media Purolite A-300

 

The treatment process consists of an oxidizing filter followed by an ion exchange column. The effect of pH, arsenate concentration and filtration velocity were examined using simulated groundwater.

The investigation procedure was as follows. The investigation was carried out in the laboratory on a fixed unit incorporating dynamic columns with Filox-R and the anionic-exchange media Purolite A-300 (chloride ion form) serving as oxidizing and ion-exchanging filters respectively. Thus, an oxidizing filter was used followed by an anion filtration system.
Raw water was pumped from a three-liter flask and flowed downward through the oxidizing filter. A MasterFlex L/S pump with a controller was used. Flow rates (1 mL/min to 3 mL/min) were adjusted with the speed control potentiometer as well as an additional flow meter.

Analytical procedures

 

The chemical analysis of the samples was done by a colorimetric method (Hach method) for the detection of arsenic of 0-500 ppb. Sulfamic acid and powdered zinc react to create strong reducing conditions in which inorganic arsenic is reduced to arsine gas (AsH₃). The arsine gas then reacts with mercuric bromide impregnated test paper to form mixed arsenic/mercury halogenides (e.g. AsH₂HgBr). These compounds discolor the test strip depending upon the concentration of the arsenic in the sample. The color change is from white to yellow to tan to brown.

Most tests for arsenic, including the Hach method, rely on the conversion of arsenic to arsine gas.

As₂O₃+6Zn+12HCl ð 2AsH₃+6ZnCl₂+3H₂O
H₃AsO₄+4Zn+8HCl ð AsH₃+4ZnCl₂+4H₂O
The liberated arsine gas is then reacted with a detector paper that has been impregnated with mercuric bromide. As the reaction above indicates, arsine gas is commonly generated by reduction with zinc metal and hydrochloric acid. The zinc powder and all other reagents in the Hach method were packaged in unit dose form for convenience and to minimize handling. The mercuric bromide test paper was on the end of a long plastic strip to eliminate the need to be exposed to the mercuric bromide.
The strips were all photographed and digitized by a Canon Power Shot S200 Digital Elph camera. Representative samples of influent and effluent water were analyzed by the company Body Cote using ICP-MS at the detection limit of 1 ppb to double check the reproducibility of the analytical results. No difference was observed.