ARSENIC REMEDIATION OF DRINKING WATER

Kamaru M. B¹. Umar S². Usman A. A³, Fatima L. B⁴

^1,2,3,4 Department of Science Laboratory

Technology Umaru Ali shinkafi Polytechnic Sokoto

E-mail: bashirkamaru@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

In this study, the potential of limestone as an adsorbent of different particle sizes for the removal of arsenic from drinking water was investigated. Effects of various operating parameters such as particle size, contact time and adsorbent dosage ere studied using batch adsorption studies.  X-ray fluorescence (XRF) was used to certify the mineral composition of limestone. This method shows maximum removal of arsenic 98.4 % under the following operating conditions: contact time 10 min, adsorbent dosage 2 g, and particle size 2 µm and temperature 28 ^oC. Pseudo-first and pseudo-second-order kinetic models were employed to elucidate the adsorption behaviour of the system. The result of the adsorption process showed a poor correlation value with the pseudo-second-order model compared to the pseudo-first-order. This designates that the rate-determining steps in the adsorption of arsenic could be physical adsorption processes.

Keywords: Limestone, arsenic, adsorption, correlation, kinetics