Use of Biomass for Removal of Arsenic Compounds

Abstract

Water contamination with arsenic compounds is a serious problem. One of the solutions is to develop new sorbents based on natural materials that would be cost-effective and environmentally friendly. New sorbents based on biomaterial impregnation with iron oxyhydroxides have been developed. Raw peat material, iron modified-peat, sand, iron modifiedbiomass (shingles, straw) were used for removal of arsenic compounds. The highest sorption capacity was observed for iron modified-peat. Kinetic studies indicated that most of arsenates were removed within 2 hours, and arsenate sorption on iron modified-peat was characterized by the pseudo-second order rate law.