Abstract

CHAVEZ QUIJADA, Mary Luz  and  MIGLIO TOLEDO, María. Arsenic removal by solar oxidation in waters for human consumption. Rev. Soc. Quím. Perú [online]. 2011, vol.77, n.4, pp.307-314. ISSN 1810-634X.

The consumption of polluted water with arsenic is a problem of public health in the world and the conventional treatment methods are expensive and applicable mainly in the urban populations. In this research was evaluated a simple treatment as an alternative: the method of Arsenic Removal by Solar Oxidation, SORAS, using iron wires and lemon juice. Experimental tests were carried out with synthetic waters with an average pH around 6,7 and 0,2 mg/L of arsenic, being obtained a 98,5% reduction of total arsenic under a solar irradiation average of 612,1 W-h/m² in six hours. For the treatment of a liter of water it was used six grams of iron wire No. 16 and 1,3 mL of lemon juice of the variety Citrus aurantifolia swingle (subtle). The experimentation in field was carried out in the Apurímac region using the waters of Iscahuaca-Colcabamba river, that showed a concentration of 0,05 arsenic mg/L, the result was a reduction of 88% of the total arsenic, under a solar irradiation average of 586 W-h/m². The results indicate that the SORAS method can be applied for arsenic removal of drinking water, in rural areas at family level, along with a program of sensitization and education.

Keywords : Solar irradiation; adsorption; arsenic; citric acid; water treatment.

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