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Introduction
Arsenic (As) is a highly toxic element that is widely present in nature and industrial wastewater. The discharge of arsenic-containing wastewater not only threatens the ecological environment, but also causes serious harm to human health through drinking water or the food chain.
How to efficiently remove arsenic from wastewater has become one of the important research topics in the field of environmental protection. Activated carbon has become an important choice for treating arsenic-containing wastewater due to its excellent adsorption performance and wide adaptability.
Sources of arsenic wastewater
Mining wastewater:
During the mining and smelting process of gold, copper and other mines, arsenic enters the wastewater as a byproduct element.
During the flotation and leaching process of arsenic-containing ores, high-concentration arsenic-containing wastewater will be produced.
Electronic industry:
Arsenic compounds are used in the production process of semiconductors, photovoltaic energy, etc., and arsenic residues may be contained in the wastewater.
Chemical industry:
Arsenic compounds are used in the production of some pesticides, medicines and dyes, leading to wastewater pollution.
Groundwater contamination:
Groundwater in some areas naturally contains high concentrations of arsenic, particularly in areas of sedimentary or volcanic rock.
Dissolved arsenic in groundwater exists as trivalent arsenic (As³⁺) and pentavalent arsenic (As⁵⁺).
Which type of activated carbon is suitable for arsenic wastewater?
Activated carbon can effectively adsorb arsenic compounds in wastewater due to its well-developed pore structure and high specific surface area (usually 500-1500 m²/g). In addition, activated carbon can significantly enhance its adsorption capacity for arsenic by impregnation modification (such as impregnation with iron, manganese, alumina, etc.).
Iron-impregnated activated carbon: Iron oxide has a strong affinity with arsenic ions (especially As³⁺ and As⁵⁺), and can significantly improve adsorption capacity through complexation reactions. It has high selectivity for arsenic ions and is suitable for treating high-concentration arsenic-containing wastewater.
Chemical reaction example:
Fe(OH)₃ + H₃AsO₄ → FeAsO₄·H₂O
Manganese-impregnated activated carbon: Manganese oxide has strong oxidizing properties and can oxidize trivalent arsenic (As³⁺) to pentavalent arsenic (As⁵⁺), thereby improving removal efficiency.
Alumina-impregnated activated carbon: The alumina surface has a strong adsorption capacity for arsenate ions (AsO₄³⁻). It is suitable for drinking water purification.
| Item | Specification |
|---|---|
| Surface area | ≥ 1000 m²/g |
| Impregnated type | Fe、Mn、Alumina |
| Adsorption capacity（As³⁺） | ≥ 20 mg/g |
| Adsorption capacity（As⁵⁺） | ≥ 30 mg/g |
| Size | 8×30mesh / 12×40mesh |
Conclusion
Activated carbon plays an important role in the treatment of arsenic-containing wastewater due to its excellent adsorption performance and environmental protection characteristics. By using modified activated carbon (such as iron or alumina impregnated activated carbon), trivalent arsenic and pentavalent arsenic can be effectively removed, reducing the arsenic concentration in the water to below the safety standard. Whether in mining wastewater treatment or drinking water purification, activated carbon is an economical, efficient and sustainable solution.
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