Arsenic and chromate removal from water by iron chips-Effects of anions

The purpose of this study is to estimate the removal efficiency of As and Cr (VI) by one kind of industrial waste — iron chips, as well as to estimate the effects of typical inorganic anions (sulfate, phosphate, and nitrate), and typical organic anions (citrate, oxalate, and humate) on As or Cr (VI) removal. The results showed that 98% of As (V) and 92% of As (III) could be removed from aqueous phase by the iron chips within 60 min. Compared with As species, Cr (VI) was removed much more rapidly and efficiently with 97% of Cr (VI) being removed within 25 min. The removal efficiency for arsenic was in the order: As (III) (sulfate), As (III) (nitrate) or As (III), As (III) (humate), As (III) (oxalate), As (III) (citrate), As (III) (phosphate), and for chromate was in the order: Cr (VI) (sulfate), Cr (VI) (phosphate) or Cr (VI) (nitrate) or Cr (VI) (oxalate), Cr (VI), Cr (VI) (citrate), Cr (VI) (humate). In all the treatments, pH level increased with time except for As (III), the removal of which was either without anions or in the presence of humate or nitrate.