J Water SRT - Aqua 47 (1998) 30-35

Granular ferric hydroxide—a new adsorbent for the removal of arsenic from natural water

W. Driehaus, M. Jekel and U. Hildebrandt

GEH Wasserchemie GmbH & Co. KG, Heinrich Hasemeier Straße 33, D-49076 Osnabrück

Technical University of Berlin, Dep. of Water Quality Control, Secr. KF 4, Straße des 17. Juni 135, D-10623 Berlin

Fachhochschule Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttel, Labour für Wassertechnik, Salzdahlumer Straße 46-48, D-38302 Wolfenbüttel, Germany

Granular ferric hydroxide (GFH) is an adsorbent, developed for arsenic removal from natural water. It can be applied in simple fixed bed reactors, similar to those for activated alumina or activated carbon. GFH has a high adsorption capacity in model systems and in natural waters. The application of GFH in test adsorbers showed a high treatment capacity of 30 000–40 000 bed volumes, until the new German and WHO drinking water standard for arsenic of 10 g/L was exceeded. The residue of this technique is a solid waste, enriched with arsenic. The typical residual mass is in the range of 5–25 g/m³ treated water. This new technique for arsenic removal provides a simple and effective method, particularly for small water facilities.

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