Arsenic preoxidation and its removal from groundwater using iron coagulants

Recent studies revealed the similar chemism and appearance of heightened arsenic concentrations (over 200g/L) in groundwaters of the Pannonian basin (Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, and Romania) due to the geological composition. These are representing significant health issues since those groundwaters are the main source of drinking water for the population in these areas. The consumption of arsenic-contaminated water causes chronic poisoning, which manifests as various toxic and carcinogenic effects in humans. Due to similar physicochemical characteristics of Pannonian groundwaters, naturally arsenic-contaminated groundwater from well field Vinogradi in the area of Osijek town was used to remove arsenic using different types of iron coagulants: FeSO4, Fe-2(SO4)(3), FeCl3, and oxidants: KMnO4 and H2O2. During the experiments, up to 97% arsenic was removed from used groundwater (average initial arsenic concentration of 204g/L). This paper attempts to contribute to long-term quality improvement of drinking water in the area of Pannonian basin, since the coagulation and flocculation is a simple and affordable drinking water treatment usually applied in water treatment plants in most countries of the Pannonian basin.