Arsenic Removal From Drinking Arsenic Removal From Drinking Water in BangladeshWater in Bangladesh

Innovation Moving Into the Real WorldInnovation Moving Into the Real World

Matt SimmonsMatt Simmons Arsenic Solutions, Inc.Arsenic Solutions, Inc.&& Cooperative Research Cooperative Research CentreCentre for for

Waste Management and Pollution ControlWaste Management and Pollution Control--Sydney, AustraliaSydney, Australia

BackgroundBackgroundn Arsenic Causes Many Health Problemsn Bangladesh Has est. 40m Affected People

BackgroundBackground

n Arsenic Present in Groundwater as Arsenic(III) and (V)

n Effective Removal Typically Requires a Pre-oxidation Step to As(V)

n Chemical Oxidants Such as Chlorine or Permanganate Normally Used Are Expensive and Cause Other Problems

Innovation StepInnovation Step

n CRC Invented and Patented a Process to Accelerate Arsenic Oxidation With Natural Dissolved Oxygen , Using UV Light

n Synergistic Use of Natural Iron as Both the Photo-absorber and Co-precipitant for Removal

n We Found Sunlight or Existing UV Technology Could Be Used

n It Appeared that Mine Waste Would Be The Major Use

InnovationInnovation

n $2 million Arsenic R&D Project Undertaken

n Mine Wastes Were the Initial Focus-Fe(II) & As(III) are “Friends”

n Discovered Fe(II) Can Aid Arsenic Removal

n Application to Bangladesh & Elsewhere Came Later

Existing Acid Mine Waters in Montana, Existing Acid Mine Waters in Montana, USAUSA

Mine site Arsenic(III) Iron(II)/arsenic(III) ppb mole ratio

Bullion Mine 410 506Crystal Mine 930 36Londonderry 1090 12Susie Mine* 12000 22Susie Mine 11420 39Washington #1 540 13Washington #2 150 219

• Large Scale “FeOx” Reactor

•Demonstrated in Montana with EPA & DOE

Solar Oxidation Trials in Montana, USAWith DOE & EPA

Oxidation of Arsenic at USA Mine SiteOxidation of Arsenic at USA Mine Site

Time of day0

5

10

15

20

0 2 4 6

Hours of Sunlight

As(V

), m

g/L

100% As(V)

Known Problem Areas For Arsenic in Groundwater

Montana Leads to Bangladesh:Simple-Low Tech Solution

Bi-Lateral Aid Provides Clean Water “On-Tap”

Swiss AdSwiss Adaptation aptation of of FeOxFeOx(“(“SODIS”SODIS”WegelinWegelin and and SommerSommer--1998) 1998)

Use of Citrate Speeds the Use of Citrate Speeds the ReactionReaction

Adoption ofAdoption of InnovationInnovation & & CommercializationCommercialization

n Effective in Typical USA Groundwatern Field Testing Donen “Non-Chlorine” Technology Attractiven Industrial Applications Foundn Infrastructure/Partners Foundn Regulations and Verification Addressed

With Partners & Stakeholdersn Low Levels Waiting on Official MCL

Technology Transfer in USATechnology Transfer in USAn Fast Oxidation Can Use Existing Equipmentn Cheaper and Safer than KMnO4,

Chlorine or Ozonen Compatible with Existing Treatment Methods:

Lime Softening, Coagulation, Alumina Adsorption, Membrane Filtration

n Other Contaminants Such as Manganese also Oxidised

Treatment of Residuals Needs Treatment of Residuals Needs to be Consideredto be Considered

n Need to View the Whole “Problem”n CRC Group Performed Extensive Work On

Stability of Arsenic-Containing Residualsn Stabilized Arsenic Wastes Which Passed

USEPA-TCLP Test, Failed When Subjected To Immersion in Aerated Water

Water Immersion TestWater Immersion Test

Filter cloth

Sample

Air bubbles

Measuring Cylinder

De-mineralized water

Calcium ArseCalcium Arsenatenate in cementin cement

0

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300

400

0 20 40 60

Days

As, m

g/ L

No CO2

aerated water

Calcium Calcium ArseArsenitenite in Cementin Cement

0

2000

4000

6000

8000

0 20 40 60

Days

As, m

g/L

No CO2

air

As Bearing As Bearing FerrihydriteFerrihydrite in Cementin Cement

0

1

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0 50 100

Days

As, m

g/L

No CO2

air

Concluding RemarksConcluding Remarksn Iron UV-Oxidation Process an Economic

Alternative to Chemical Oxidantsn Process Compatible with Existing Water

Treatment Methods to Remove Arsenicn Looking Beyond Original R&D Goals Key to

Successn High ScienceGives HighTechand LowTech

Applicationsn Development of Different Partners for Each

Application

SummarySummary

n Technology Suited to New or Retrofit process As it Fits in Existing Industrial Infrastructure

n Patents In-place:Upside for Developersn $1 million Montana Test Done, Other Field

Work Donen Bangladesh & Developing Countries Projects

Not “Commercial” but Aid Commercializationn Now Know This Can be Used to Help Solve

USA Problem

http://www.arsenic.org