CLU-IN | Contaminants > Arsenic > Treatment Technologies

For more information on Arsenic Treatment, please contact:

Linda Fiedler
Technology Assessment Branch
PH: (703) 603-7194 | Email: fiedler.linda@epa.gov

Arsenic

Treatment Technologies

Overview

Arsenic cannot be destroyed in the environment; it can only change its form or become attached to or separated from particles. It may change its form by reacting with oxygen or other molecules present in air, water, or soil, or by the metabolic action of of plants or animals.

Arsenic is a contaminant of concern in ground water at many remediation sites. Because it readily changes valence states and reacts to form species with varying toxicity and mobility, effective treatment of arsenic can be challenging. Treatment of contaminated groundwater can result in residuals that, under some environmental conditions, have unstable toxicity and mobility. In addition, the revised MCL for arsenic in drinking water could result in lower treatment goals for aboveground treatment systems. A lower treatment goal may significantly affect the selection, design, cost, and operation of arsenic treatment systems.

Adapted from:

"ATSDR Public Health Statement for Arsenic." Sep 2000

U.S. EPA. Arsenic Treatment Technologies for Soil, Waste, and Water. EPA 542-R-02-004, 2002.

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Overview Reports | Cost Analysis | Specific Treatment Technologies | Site-Specific Information | Literature References

Overview Reports

Arsenic Removal from Drinking Water
Bianchelli, Tatiana (ed.)
Nova Science Publishers. ISBN:1590337239, 150 pp., 2003.

Arsenic Removal in Water Treatment Facilities: Survey of Geochemical Factors and Pilot Plant Experiments
S.D. Wilson, W.R. Kelly, and T.R. Holm, and J.L. Talbott. 79 pp, 2002.
Contact: Steve Wilson swilson@sws.uiuc.edu

Arsenic Treatment Technologies for Soil, Waste, and Water
EPA 542-R-02-004, 1 Volume + 2 Appendices, 2002
Contact: Linda Fiedler, fiedler.linda@epa.gov
Appendix A: Literature Search Results (367K/PDF)
Appendix B: Sites with Arsenic as a Superfund Constituent of Concern (137K/PDF)

This report summarizes information on 13 technologies used to treat arsenic: in situ soil flushing, solidification/stabilization, vitrification, soil washing/acid extraction, pyrometallurgical treatment, electrokinetics, and phytoremediation for soil; precipitation-coprecipitation, membrane filtration, adsorption, ion exchange, permeable reactive barriers, and biological treatment for water.

Arsenic Treatment Technology Evaluation Handbook for Small Systems
U.S. EPA, Office of Groundwater and Drinking Water.
EPA 816-R-03-014, 150 pp, 2003.
Contact: Safe Drinking Water Hotline, hotline-sdwa@epa.gov

Chemistry and Treatment of Arsenic in Drinking Water
Narasimhan, Ramesh, Bruce Thomson, Joe Chwirka, & Jerry Lowry.
American Water Works Association. ISBN:1583212760, 550 pp., 2005.

Disposal of Waste Resulting from Arsenic Removal Processes
D. Cornwell, M. MacPhee, R. Mutter, J. Novak, and M. Edwards.
IWA Pub., London. AwwaRF Report 90953F, ISBN: 1843398559, 206 pp, 2004 [Originally released to Awwa Research Foundation subscribers in 2003]

The objective of this work was to better understand the factors that cause the release of arsenic from solid residuals and allow arsenic to re-enter the environment. These guidelines help those who are in the process of selecting an arsenic removal treatment technology to also identify the types of residuals that would be generated, the expected arsenic concentrations, and any pre-treatment strategies required prior to final disposal.

Final Report on Treatment of Arsenic Residuals from Drinking Water Removal Processes
M.J. MacPhee, G.E. Charles, and D.A. Cornwell.
EPA 600-R-01-033, 96 pp, 2001.
Contact: Thomas J. Sorg, sorg.thomas@epa.gov

Proven Alternatives for Aboveground Treatment of Arsenic in Groundwater
EPA-542-S-02-002, 68 pp, 2002
Contact: Linda Fiedler, fiedler.linda@epa.gov

This issue paper, developed for EPA's Engineering Forum, identifies and summarizes experiences with proven aboveground treatment alternatives for arsenic in groundwater, and provides information on their relative effectiveness and cost for precipitation/coprecipitation, adsorption, ion exchange, and membrane filtration. The report describes the theory and operation of each technique, available project-specific performance and cost data, and limitations. The report also discusses special considerations for retrofitting systems to meet the lower arsenic drinking water standard (maximum contaminant level or MCL) of 10 µg/l.

Recent Developments for in Situ Treatment of Metal Contaminated Soils
EPA-542-R-97-004, 64 pp, 1997
Contact: John Kingscott, kingscott.john@epa.gov

Review of Arsenic Removal Technologies for Contaminated Groundwaters
Vu, K.B., M.D. Kaminski, and L. Nunuz, Argonne National Laboratory.
ANL-CMT-03/2, 43 pp, 2003

Technology Selection and System Design: U.S. EPA Arsenic Removal Technology Demonstration Program, Round 1
Lili Wang, W.E. Condit, and A.S.C. Chen, Battelle, Columbus, OH.
EPA 600-R-05-001, 49 pp., 2004.

This report reviews the source water quality characteristics at each of 12 demonstration sites and presents the rationale behind the selection of an arsenic removal technology for each site. The report also summarizes the design and operation of each of the technologies: nine adsorptive media systems, one anion exchange system, one coagulation/filtration system, and one system modification to a MnO2-coated anthrasand filtration system.

Treatment Technologies for Arsenic Removal
U.S. EPA, National Risk Management Research Laboratory, Cincinnati OH.
EPA 600-S-05-006, 12 pp, 2005
Contact: Darren Lytle, lytle.darren@epa.gov

This booklet provides information about treatment technologies for arsenic removal to the MCL of 10 ug/L, as well as design considerations for choosing treatment technologies.

Cost Analysis

Capital Costs of Arsenic Removal Technologies: U.S. EPA Arsenic Removal Technology Demonstration Program, Round 1
A.S.C. Chen, L. Wang, J.L. Oxenham, and W.E. Condit, Battelle, Columbus, OH.
EPA 600-R-04-201, 54 pp., 2004.

This report provides a brief description of each of the 12 Round 1 demonstration sites and the respective technologies being evaluated, i.e., 9 adsorptive media systems, 1 ion exchange system, 1 coagulation/filtration system, and 1 process modification. Capital costs are organized into categories for equipment, engineering, and installation, and then summed to arrive at a total capital investment cost for each system.

Federal Remediation Technology Roundtable Technology Cost and Performance Reports

Excel User Friendly Cost Program for Arsenic Removal by Adsorptive Media and Ion Exchange
U.S. EPA, Office of Research and Development. Revised 12/01/2004.

This Excel program contains macros, which may be mistaken as a computer virus. For the program to function properly, the user must enable the macros. This program has been reviewed for computer viruses by Battelle, the program designer, and U.S. EPA, and it has been found to be free of any computer viruses. With respect to this program available from this server, neither the United States Government nor any of their employees, makes any warranty, express or implied, including the warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights.

Technologies and Costs for Removal of Arsenic from Drinking Water
U.S. EPA, Office of Water.
EPA-815-R-00-028, 284 pp, 2000.
Contact: Amit Kapadia, kapadia.amit@epa.gov

Specific Treatment Technologies

Anaerobic Biostimulation for the In Situ Precipitation and Long-Term Sequestration of Metal Sulfides
M. DeFlaun, J. Lanzon, M. Lodato, S. Henry, T.E. Onstott, E. Chan, and B. Otemuyiwa.
SERDP Project ER-1373, 175 pp, 2009

A small-scale field pilot demonstration began at the Avon Park Air Force Range in Florida at ST-65 in January 2008 in a 30-ft by 30-ft target zone in the area of highest As concentration. Injections of sodium lactate, ferrous sulfate, diammonium phosphate, and ethanol began in April 2008 and were distributed by a groundwater recirculation system to stimulate indigenous sulfate-reducing bacteria. The final amendment injection consisted of sodium lactate, sodium sulfate, and diammonium phosphate. Arsenic concentrations decreased by up to two orders of magnitude to ~0.01 µM (1.4 ppb) between March and September 2008.

Arsenic Oxidation Demonstration Project—Final Report. Mine Waste Technology Program Activity III, Project 7
MSE Technology Applications, Inc., Butte, MT
MWTP-84, 147 pp, 1998

Describes a 1996 demonstration of a process developed by the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organization (ANSTO) to photo-oxidize, remove, and/or immobilize arsenic in mine effluents.

Arsenic Remediation Technology - AsRT
Environmental Research Institute. 2001.

AsRT technology involves the use of iron filings (zero-valent iron) and sand to reduce inorganic arsenic species to iron co-precipitates, mixed precipitates, and (in conjunction with sulfates) arsenopyrites. The method can be employed, for example, as part of a permeable reactive barrier groundwater treatment system, or ex situ in groundwater pump and treat.

EPA Arsenic Removal Demonstration Program

Arsenic Removal from Drinking Water by Adsorptive Media: U.S. EPA Demonstration Project at Wellman, TX. Six-Month Evaluation Report

Arsenic Removal from Drinking Water by Adsorptive Media: U.S. EPA Demonstration Project at Wellman, TX. Final Performance Evaluation Report

Bioremediation of Arsenic, Chromium, Lead, and Mercury
Prepared by Adebowale Adeniji, a National Network of Environmental Management studies grantee, under a fellowship from U.S. EPA. 43 pp, 2004.

Design Manual: Removal of Arsenic from Drinking Water Supplies by Iron Removal Process
G.L. Hoffman, D.A. Lytle, T.J. Sorg, A.S.C. Chen, and L. Wang.
EPA 600-R-06-030, 78 pp, 2006.
Contact: Thomas Sorg, sorg.thomas@epa.gov

Electrochemical Treatment to Facilitate and Improve Arsenic Removal
G. Korshin, J. Kim, and A. Velichenko.
IWA Pub., London. AwwaRF Report 91030F, ISBN: 1843399180, 126 pp, July 2006

Environmental Technology Verification Report: Removal of Arsenic in Drinking Water, Basin Water High Efficiency Ion Exchange Treatment System
U.S. EPA, Cincinnati, OH.
EPA 600-R-05-117, 159 pp, 2005.

Environmental Technology Verification Report: Removal of Arsenic in Drinking Water, Pall Corporation Microza(R) Microfiltration System
U.S. EPA, Cincinnati, OH.
EPA 600-R-05-120, 97 pp, 2005.

Field Application of a Permeable Reactive Barrier for Treatment of Arsenic in Ground Water
R.T. Wilkin, S.D. Acree, D.G. Beak, R.R. Ross, T.R. Lee, and C.J. Paul.
EPA 600-R-08-093, 81 pp, 2008

In June 2005, a pilot-scale PRB containing granular iron was installed at a former metal smelting facility near Helena, MT, to treat ground water contaminated with concentrations (>25 mg/L) of arsenite and arsenate. The barrier is 9.1 m long, 14 m deep, and 1.8 to 2.4 m wide (in the direction of ground-water flow). Within the PRB, As concentrations are 2 to <0.01 mg/L. After 2 years of operation, significant decreases in As concentrations are evident. This report covers site characterization, remedial design and implementation, and monitoring results for this pilot-scale PRB.

High-Level Arsenite Removal from Groundwater by Zero-Valent Iron
H.L. Lien and R.T. Wilkin. Chemosphere, 59(3):377-386 Apr 2005.

Innovative Alternatives to Minimize Arsenic, Perchlorate, and Nitrate Residuals
J. Min, L. Boulos, J. Brown, D. Cornwell, Y. Le Gouellec, E. Coppola, J. Baxley, J. Rine, J. Hering, and N. Vural.
IWA Pub., London. AwwaRF Report 91054F, ISBN: 1843399342, 200 pp, 2006

This report presents treatment and residuals minimization technologies for arsenic (backwash minimization, backwash stabilization, and brine solidification), perchlorate and nitrate (biological brine treatment, thermal brine treatment, and biological treatment of perchlorate- and nitrate-laden wastewater).

Monitored Natural Attenuation of Inorganic Contaminants in Ground Water, Volume 2: Assessment for Non-Radionuclides, Including Arsenic, Cadmium, Chromium, Copper, Lead, Nickel, Nitrate, Perchlorate, and Selenium
EPA 600-R-07-140, 2007

In a separate chapter for each listed contaminant, Volume 2 of 3 describes (1) the natural immobilization or degradation processes that can result in the attenuation of the contaminant and (2) data requirements to be met during site characterization. The document emphasizes characterization of immobilization and/or degradation processes that may control contaminant attenuation, as well as technical approaches to assess performance characteristics of the MNA remedy. A tiered analysis approach is presented to assist in organizing site characterization tasks.

Performance Evaluation of ALCANAASF50-Ferric Coated Activated Alumina and Granular Ferric Hydroxide (GFH) for Arsenic Removal in the Presence of Competitive Ions in an Active Well: Kirtland Field Trial, Initial Studies
N.R. Khandaker, J. Krumhansl, L. Neidel, and M. Siegel. SAND2005-7693, 40 pp, 2006.

Phytoremediation Field Studies Database for Chlorinated Solvents, Pesticides, Explosives, and Metals
Prepared by Ana Hoffnagle and Cynthia Green under internships with U.S. EPA. 168 pp, 2004.

The paper briefly explains the concept of phytoremediation, details phytoremediation site considerations, and summarizes the successes and failures of field-scale sites where phytotechnologies have been applied or proposed.

Site Characterization to Support Use of Monitored Natural Attenuation for Remediation of Inorganic Contaminants in Ground Water
R.G. Ford, R.T. Wilkin, and S. Acree.
EPA 600-R-08-114, 16 pp, 2008

This Issue Paper highlights at what stage of the process solid-phase characterization techniques need to be implemented during site characterization and describes two case studies (one site affected by arsenic, lead, and chromium, and the other by uranium) where the results of these techniques were critical to evaluation of MNA as a potential component of ground-water cleanup.

Site-Specific Information

U.S. EPA Environmental Technology Verification (ETV) Program Verifications
Contact: Teresa Harten, harten.teresa@epa.gov

Arsenic Drinking Water Treatment Technology Demonstrations

Identifies research topics under U.S. EPA's Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) / Science to Achieve Results (STAR) programs.

Arsenic Rule Implementation Research Demonstration Program
U.S. EPA Office of Research and Development, National Risk Management Research Laboratory

Literature References

Technology Innovation News Survey Archives
The Technology Innovation News Survey archive contains resources gathered from published material and gray literature relevant to the research, development, testing, and application of innovative technologies for the remediation of hazardous waste sites. The collected abstracts date from 1998 to the present, and the archive is updated twice each month.

U.S. EPA Contaminated Site Cleanup Information (CLU-IN)

Arsenic

Treatment Technologies