Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Simultaneous removal of arsenate and fluoride from water by Al-Fe (hydr)oxides

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Frontiers of Environmental Science & Engineering Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Al-Fe (hydr)oxides with different Al/Fe molar ratios (4:1, 1:1, 1:4, 0:1) were prepared using a coprecipitat method and were then employed for simultaneous removal of arsenate and fluoride. The 4Al: Fe was superior to other adsorbents for removal of arsenate and fluoride in the pH range of 5.0–9.0. The adsorption capacity of the Al-Fe (hydr)oxides for arsenate and fluoride at pH 6.5±0.3 increased with increasing Al content in the adsorbents. The linear relationship between the amount of OH− released from the adsorbent and the amount of arsenate or fluoride adsorbent by 4Al: Fe indicated that the adsorption of arsenate and fluoride by Al-Fe (hydr)oxides was realized primarily through quantitative ligand exchange. Moreover, there was a very good correlation between the surface hydroxyl group densities of Al-Fe (hydr)oxides and their adsorption capacities for arsenate or fluoride. The highest adsorption capacity for arsenate and fluoride by 4Al : Fe is mainly ascribed to its highest surface hydroxyl group density besides its largest pHpzc. The dosage of adsorbent necessary to remove arsenate and fluoride to meet the drinking water standard was mainly determined by the presence of fluoride since fluoride was generally present in groundwater at much higher concentration than arsenate.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Chouhan S, Flora S J S. Arsenic and fluoride: two major ground water pollutants. Indian Journal of Experimental Biology, 2010, 48 (7): 666–678

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Wu C X, Gu X L, Ge Y M, Zhang J H, Wang J D. Effects of high fluoride and arsenic on brain biochemical indexes and learning-memory in rats. Fluoride, 2006, 39(4): 274–279

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Amini M, Abbaspour K C, Berg M, Winkel L, Hug S J, Hoehn E, Yang H, Johnson C A. Statistical modeling of global geogenic arsenic contamination in groundwater. Environmental Science & Technology, 2008, 42(10): 3669–3675

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Amini M, Mueller K, Abbaspour K C, Rosenberg T, Afyuni M, Møller K N, Sarr M, Johnson C A. Statistical modeling of global geogenic fluoride contamination in groundwaters. Environmental Science & Technology, 2008, 42(10): 3662–3668

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Armienta M A, Segovia N. Arsenic and fluoride in the groundwater of Mexico. Environmental Geochemistry and Health, 2008, 30(4): 345–353

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Tang Y L, Guan X H, Su T Z, Gao N Y, Wang J M. Fluoride adsorption onto activated alumina: modeling the effects of pH and some competing ions. Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects, 2009, 337(1–3): 33–38

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Warren C, Burgess W G, Garcia M G. Hydrochemical associations and depth profiles of arsenic and fluoride in Quaternary loess aquifers of northern Argentina. Mineralogical Magazine, 2005, 69 (5): 877–886

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Wang Y, Shvartsev S L, Su C. Genesis of arsenic/fluoride-enriched soda water: a case study at Datong, northern China. Applied Geochemistry, 2009, 24(4): 641–649

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Farooqi A, Masuda H, Firdous N. Toxic fluoride and arsenic contaminated groundwater in the Lahore and Kasur districts, Punjab, Pakistan and possible contaminant sources. Environmental Pollution, 2007, 145(3): 839–849

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Farooqi A, Masuda H, Kusakabe M, Naseem M, Firdous N. Distribution of highly arsenic and fluoride contaminated groundwater from east Punjab, Pakistan, and the controlling role of anthropogenic pollutants in the natural hydrological cycle. Geochemical Journal, 2007, 41(4): 213–234

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Farooqi A, Masuda H, Siddiqui R, Naseem M. Sources of arsenic and fluoride in highly contaminated soils causing groundwater contamination in Punjab, Pakistan. Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 2009, 56(4): 693–706

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Gomez M L, Blarasin M T, Martinez D E. Arsenic and fluoride in a loess aquifer in the central area of Argentina. Environmental Geology, 2009, 57(1): 143–155

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Smedley P L, Zhang M, Zhang G, Luo Z. Mobilisation of arsenic and other trace elements in fluviolacustrine aquifers of the Huhhot Basin, Inner Mongolia. Applied Geochemistry, 2003, 18(9): 1453–1477

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Wang G Q, Huang Y Z, Xiao B Y, Qian X C, Yao H, Hu Y, Gu Y L, Zhang C, Liu K T. Toxicity from water containing arsenic and fluoride in Xinjiang. Fluoride, 1997, 30(2): 81–84

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Zhu C, Bai G, Liu X, Li Y. Screening high-fluoride and high-arsenic drinking waters and surveying endemic fluorosis and arsenism in Shaanxi Province in western China. Water Research, 2006, 40(16): 3015–3022

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. MHPRC. Standards for Dinking Water Quality. Beijing: Ministry of Health of the People’s Republic of China, 2007. Available online at http://www.moh.gov.cn/open/db_query/new/20070628143525.pdf. (accessed April 5, 2013)

    Google Scholar 

  17. Devi R, Alemayehu E, Singh V, Kumar A, Mengistie E. Removal of fluoride, arsenic and coliform bacteria by modified homemade filter media from drinking water. Bioresource Technology, 2008, 99(7): 2269–2274

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Mlilo T B, Brunson L R, Sabatini D A. Arsenic and fluoride removal using simple materials. Journal of Environmental Engineering, 2010, 136(4): 391–398

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Pinon-Miramontes M, Bautista-Margulis R G, Perez-Hernandez A. Removal of arsenic and fluoride from drinking water with cake alum and a polymeric anionic flocculent. Fluoride, 2003, 36(2): 122–128

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Padilla A P, Saitua H. Performance of simultaneous arsenic, fluoride and alkalinity (bicarbonate) rejection by pilot-scale nanofiltration. Desalination, 2010, 257(1–3): 16–21

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Zhao X, Zhang B, Liu H, Qu J. Simultaneous removal of arsenite and fluoride via an integrated electro-oxidation and electrocoagulation process. Chemosphere, 2011, 83(5): 726–729

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Ingallinella A M, Pacini V A, Fernández R G, Vidoni R M, Sanguinetti G. Simultaneous removal of arsenic and fluoride from groundwater by coagulation-adsorption with polyaluminum chloride. Journal of Environmental Science and Health Part A, 2011, 46 (11): 1288–1296

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Deng S, Liu H, Zhou W, Huang J, Yu G. Mn-Ce oxide as a high-capacity adsorbent for fluoride removal from water. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 2011, 186(2–3): 1360–1366

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Pan Y F, Chiou C T, Lin T F. Adsorption of arsenic(V) by iron-oxide-coated diatomite (IOCD). Environmental Science and Pollution Research International, 2010, 17(8): 1401–1410

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Ren Z, Zhang G, Chen J P. Adsorptive removal of arsenic from water by an iron-zirconium binary oxide adsorbent. Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, 2011, 358(1): 230–237

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Biswas K, Saha S K, Ghosh U C. Adsorption of fluoride from aqueous solution by a synthetic Iron(III)-Aluminum(III) mixed oxide. Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, 2007, 46(16): 5346–5356

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Hong H J, Farooq W, Yang J S, Yang J W. Preparation and evaluation of Fe-Al binary oxide for arsenic removal: comparative study with single metal oxides. Separation Science and Technology, 2010, 45(12–13): 1975–1981

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Masue Y, Loeppert R H, Kramer T A. Arsenate and arsenite adsorption and desorption behavior on coprecipitated aluminum: iron hydroxides. Environmental Science & Technology, 2007, 41(3): 837–842

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Sujana MG, Anand S. Iron and aluminium based mixed hydroxides: a novel sorbent for fluoride removal from aqueous solutions. Applied Surface Science, 2010, 256(23): 6956–6962

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Sujana M G, Soma G, Vasumathi N, Anand S. Studies on fluoride adsorption capacities of amorphous Fe/Al mixed hydroxides from aqueous solutions. Journal of Fluorine Chemistry, 2009, 130(8): 749–754

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Tamura H, Tanaka A, Mita K, Furuichi R. Surface hydroxyl site densities on metal oxides as a measure for the ion-exchange capacity. Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, 1999, 209(1): 225–231

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Jain A, Raven K P, Loeppert R H. Arsenite and arsenate adsorption on ferrihydrite: surface charge reduction and net OH− release stoichiometry. Environmental Science & Technology, 1999, 33(8): 1179–1184

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Schwertmann U, Taylor RM. Iron Oxides. In: Dixon J B, Weed S B, Dinauer R C, eds. Minerals in Soil Environments. Madison WI: Soil Science Society of America, 1989

    Google Scholar 

  34. Krokidis X, Raybaud P, Gobichon A E, Rebours B, Euzen P, Toulhoat H. Theoretical study of the dehydration process of boehmite to gamma-alumina. Journal of Physical Chemistry B, 2001, 105(22): 5121–5130

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Liu Y T, Hesterberg D. Phosphate bonding on noncrystalline Al/Fe-hydroxide coprecipitates. Environmental Science & Technology, 2011, 45(15): 6283–6289

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Guan X H, Wang J M, Chusuei C C. Removal of arsenic from water using granular ferric hydroxide: macroscopic and microscopic studies. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 2008, 156(1–3): 178–185

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. Li Y H, Wang S G, Cao A Y, Zhao D, Zhang X F, Xu C L, Luan Z K, Ruan D B, Liang J, Wu D H, Wei B Q. Adsorption of fluoride from water by amorphous alumina supported on carbon nanotubes. Chemical Physics Letters, 2001, 350(5–6): 412–416

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. George S, Pandit P, Gupta A B. Residual aluminium in water defluoridated using activated alumina adsorption—modeling and simulation studies. Water Research, 2010, 44(10): 3055–3064

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. Mohapatra M, Rout K, Singh P, Anand S, Layek S, Verma H C, Mishra B K. Fluoride adsorption studies on mixed-phase nano iron oxides prepared by surfactant mediation-precipitation technique. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 2011, 186(2–3): 1751–1757

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. Stumm W, Morgan J J. Aquatic Chemistry: Chemical Equilibria and Rates in NaturalWaters, 3rd ed. New York: JohnWiley & Sons, Inc, 1996

    Google Scholar 

  41. Kumar V, Talreja N, Deva D, Sankararamakrishnan N, Sharma A, Verma N. Development of bi-metal doped micro- and nano multi-functional polymeric adsorbents for the removal of fluoride and arsenic(V) from wastewater. Desalination, 2011, 282SI: 27–38

    Article  Google Scholar 

  42. Guan X H. Adsorption of phosphates and organic acids on aluminum hydroxide in aquatic environment-mechanisms and interactions. Dissertation for the Doctoral Degree. Hong Kong: Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, 2005

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China

    Junlian Qiao, Yuankui Sun, Qinghai Hu & Xiaohong Guan

  2. State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150090, China

    Zimin Cui

Authors
  1. Junlian Qiao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Zimin Cui
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Yuankui Sun
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Qinghai Hu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Xiaohong Guan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Xiaohong Guan.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Qiao, J., Cui, Z., Sun, Y. et al. Simultaneous removal of arsenate and fluoride from water by Al-Fe (hydr)oxides. Front. Environ. Sci. Eng. 8, 169–179 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11783-013-0533-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11783-013-0533-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation