Water Resources Research Act Program

Details for Project ID 2002WI4B

Removal of Arsenic in Groundwater Using a Novel Mesoporous Sorbent

Institute: Wisconsin
Year Established: 2002 Start Date: 2002-03-01 End Date: 2003-02-28
Total Federal Funds: $34,314 Total Non-Federal Funds: $28,769

Principal Investigators: Jae Park

Project Summary: Throughout the world, arsenic is creating potentially serious environmental problems for man and other living organisms. Most reported arsenic problems in water supply systems have been found in groundwater, usually the drinking water source in rural areas. Approximately 35% of drinking water wells in Wisconsin contain > 5 mg/L of arsenic. The mesoporous mixed-oxide coating media will be developed for oxidation and adsorption treatment of arsenic using the sol-gel technique. The oxidation and adsorption process will be controlled for the effective removal of arsenic compounds based on the characteristics of the arsenic contamination in the groundwater, such as concentration ratio and total quantity of arsenite and arsenate, pH, temperature, and ionic strength. A series of column tests will be performed to remove arsenic in the groundwater using mesoporous mixed-oxide coating media.