Section I
Arsenite Removal from Drinking Water using Naturally available Laterite in Sri Lanka
Authors:
R. M. S. C. Ranasinghe ,
National Water Supply and Drainage Board, LK
About R. M. S. C.
Eng.(Miss),Senior Engineer, BScEng (Peradeniya), Mphil (Peradeniya), AMIE(Sri Lanka)
D. R. I. B. Werellagama,
Wellington Institute of Technology, NZ
About D. R. I. B.
Eng. (Dr.), BScEng(Peradeniya), M.Eng (A.I.T), D.Eng (Nagoya), CEng, MIE(Sri Lanka),
Former Senior Lecturer, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Peradeniya.
Presently Lecturer, Wellington Institute of Technology, New Zealand.
R. Weerasooriya
Institute of Fundamental Studies, Kandy, LK
About R.
Research Professor. BSc (Peradeniya), PhD (Peradeniya),
Abstract
Arsenite, As(III) is the most soluble form of arsenic species. Arsenic removal efficiency by laterite (commonly found in Sri Lanka) was examined as a function of pH, initial arsenite concentration, laterite dosage, contact time and mixing rate. More than 90% arsenite removal could be achieved within 5 minutes when pH is around 10. By treating the water at this pH range, the current USEPA standard for arsenic in drinking water (10 ppb) can be maintained when the arsenite / laterite ratio is less than 10(µg/g). Results of the study showed that naturally available laterite in Sri Lanka can be used as an effective adsorbent to treat arsenic contaminated water.
ENGINEER, Vol. 47, No. 02, pp. 23-31, 2014
How to Cite:
Ranasinghe, R.M.S.C., Werellagama, D.R.I.B. and Weerasooriya, R., 2014. Arsenite Removal from Drinking Water using Naturally available Laterite in Sri Lanka. Engineer: Journal of the Institution of Engineers, Sri Lanka, 47(2), pp.23–31. DOI: http://doi.org/10.4038/engineer.v47i2.6865
Published on
20 Apr 2014.
Peer Reviewed
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