Ground water arsenic contamination is worst in eastern part of the country especially in West Bengal. The source of arsenic is natural dissolution from the rock, remediation technologies are the only solution for arsenic free water. Technologically simple and economically affordable methods are needed to address the problem in urban & remote villages / rural areas. In this respect this is an inexpensive and viable technology for removal of arsenic from domestic water which is based on adsorption of arsenic by the developed adsorbent which is structurally modified activated carbon. The method is able to remove arsenic quantitatively from contaminated water to 10µg/L which is WHO guide line value for arsenic. Contaminated water is passed through the adsorbent media and the arsenic free treated water is collected. Treated water is free of organic contaminants and many of inorganic contaminants to varying degrees.

1. Simple and inexpensive
2. Single stage and no pre treatment required
3. Arsenic present in both trivalent and pentavalent state are simultaneously removed
4. Filtration is done at natural pH and pH of treated water is not affected
5. Method is also applicable for water containing high concentration of salts
6. No residual element is added to treated water
7. Certain toxic metals are removed along with arsenic
8. Does not require electricity
9. Filtration is gravity based
10. Synthesis of adsorbent media can also be done at rural facilities

1. Removal of arsenic from ground/surface water to provide safe drinking water free from primary contaminant arsenic as well as other toxic trace elements
2. To provide arsenic free water in remote areas where gravity based filters/ cartridge may be the solution as the system does not depend on electricity
3. Technology can be adopted at both domestic and community level

Arsenic is classified as group 1 human carcinogenic substance by WHO. It was estimated that above 200 million people worldwide are exposed to arsenic contamination of drinking water. Ground water arsenic contamination is worst in eastern part of the country especially in West Bengal. The source of arsenic is natural dissolution from the rock, remediation technologies are the only solution. Technologically simple and economically affordable methods are needed to address the problem in urban & remote villages / rural areas. In this respect arsenic removal filter is an inexpensive and viable technology for removal of arsenic from domestic water which is based on adsorption of arsenic onto the developed adsorbent which is structurally modified activated carbon. The method is able to remove arsenic quantitatively from contaminated water to 10 µg/L which is WHO guide line value for arsenic. Contaminated water is passed through the adsorbent media and the arsenic free treated water is collected. Treated water is free of arsenic and other toxic elements to varying degree.

1. Simple and inexpensive
2. Single stage and no pre treatment required.
3. Arsenic present in both trivalent and pentavalent state are simultaneously removed.
4. Filtration is done at natural pH and pH of treated water is not affected.
5. Method is applicable for high TDS samples.
6. No residual element is added to treated water.
7. Many toxic metals are removed along with arsenic.
8. Does not require electricity.
9. Filtration is gravity based.
10. Synthesis of adsorbent media can also be done at rural facilities

1. Removal of arsenic from ground/surface water to provide safe drinking water free from primary contaminant like arsenic as well as other trace elements.
2. To provide arsenic free water at remote areas where gravity based filters/ cartridge may be the solution as the system does not depend on electricity.
3. Technology can be adopted at both domestic and community level.

The process of removal of arsenic is by adsorption on to structurally modified activated carbon which is synthesised from commercially available activated carbon. The adsorbent show high selectivity for arsenic and simultaneously remove trivalent and pentavalent species. Arsenic contaminated water is passed through the adsorption media filled in a cartridge or a filter device to collect arsenic free water. The technology is so simple and can be adopted to house hold use or community use and benefit from the gravity fed filtration and suitable for remote areas where electricity may not be available.

RAW MATERIALS

1. All the raw materials required for synthesis of adsorbent media for removal of arsenic are commercially available in the local market.

INFRASTRUCTURE

1. Synthesis of adsorbent requires a room having water connection, light and good ventilation. This room serves as storage room of raw materials, synthesis of adsorbent and for storage of adsorbent media. Synthesis of adsorbent can be carried out with approximate weight of chemicals and pH adjustment can be done with pH indicator paper. Treatment of chemicals is carried out in plastic wares. Adsorbent media need to be dried for storing. Sun drying is ideal and save energy requirement.

MANPOWER

1. One trained supervisor and two skilled labors can take care of synthesis of sorbent material on larger scale and associated works.