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Research article2023Peer reviewedOpen access

The natural magnesite efficacy on arsenic extraction from water and alkaline influence on metal release in water

Irunde, Regina; Ligate, Fanuel J.; Ijumulana, Julian; Ahmad, Arslan; Maity, Jyoti Prakash; Hamisi, Rajabu; Philip, Joseph Y. N.; Kilulya, Kessy Fidel; Karltun, Erik; Mtamba, Joseph; Bhattacharya, Prosun; Mtalo, Felix

Abstract

Arsenic (As) removal studies were carried out through batch experiments to investigate the performance of the locally available calcined magnesite mineral rocks from Tanzania. Natural water from a stream source in Tanzania and the prepared synthetic water at the laboratory were used for the studies. Parameters such as initial As concentration, calcined magnesite dosage, contact time and pH were evaluated for As removal using an overhead reax2 shaker. Arsenic concentration was reduced from 5.3 to 1.1 mg/L As(V) at 180 min when 0.5 g/L calcined magnesite was applied to a synthetic water sample, whereas the concentration of 117 & mu;g/L As(V) and 5.2 & mu;g/L As(III) was reduced to below 0.1 & mu;g/L in natural water. An increase in calcined magnesite dosage resulted in increased As removal up to below 0.01 mg/L. The calcined magnesite raised the pH of the water sample from 6.8 to 10 when the applied dosage increased between 0.002 g/L and 0.05 g/L. The pH was constant at around 10 even when the amount of 0.05 g/L was added 2000 times. Despite the high pH, the amount of magnesium released in water was low. The calcination of magnesite at 500 degrees C increased surface area by 4 times as compared to the natural magnesite and X-ray diffraction showed presence of MgCO3 phase as the dominant phase at this temperature. The reaction kinetics of As removal on 0.5 g/L calcined magnesite fitted with the pseudo-second-order (R2 = 0.96). Reaction isotherm was strongly fitted with Freundlich isotherm (R2 = 0.98). Linear regression and artificial intelligence neural network showed the As removal was influenced by both contact time and pH. Arsenic can be removed from As water using calcined magnesite and will be suitable for water treatment around gold mining areas.

Keywords

Arsenic removal; Calcined magnesite; Contact time and pH; Kinetics and isotherm; Natural water

Published in

Applied Geochemistry
2023, Volume: 155, article number: 105705
Publisher: PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD

    Sustainable Development Goals

    Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all

    UKÄ Subject classification

    Geochemistry
    Water Treatment

    Publication identifier

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apgeochem.2023.105705

    Permanent link to this page (URI)

    https://res.slu.se/id/publ/122978