Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Arsenic Removal From Soil With High Iron Content Using A Natural Surfactant And Phosphate, Soumyadeep Mukhopadhyay Dr, Mohd Ali Hashim Dr, Matthew Allen Mr, Bhaskar Sen Gupta Dr

Soumyadeep Mukhopadhyay Dr

An environment friendly arsenic removal technique from contaminated soil with high iron content has been studied. A natural surfactant extracted from soapnut fruit, phosphate solution and their mixture was used separately as extractants. The mixture was most effective in desorbing arsenic, attaining above 70 % efficiency in the pH range of 4–5. Desorption kinetics followed Elovich model. Micellar solubilization by soapnut and arsenic exchange mechanism by phosphate are the probable mechanisms behind arsenic desorption. Sequential extraction reveals that the mixed soapnut–phosphate system is effective in desorbing arsenic associated with amphoteric–Fe-oxide forms. No chemical change to the wash solutions was observed …