Combined use of photocatalyst and adsorbent for the removal of inorganic arsenic(III) and organoarsenic compounds from aqueous media

Tsunenori Nakajima, Yan Hua Xu, Yuko Mori, Mayumi Kishita, Hirokazu Takanashi, Shigeru Maeda, Akira Ohki

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

46 Scopus citations

Abstract

A novel method for the removal of inorganic arsenic(III) (As(III)), monomethylarsonate (MMA), and dimethylarsinate (DMA) from aqueous media, was proposed and investigated. This method involves the combined use of TiO 2-photocatalyst and an adsorbent, which has a high ability of As(V) adsorption, under photo-irradiation. When an aqueous solution of As(III) was stirred and irradiated by sunlight or xenon lamp in the presence of TiO 2 suspension, the oxidation of As(III) into As(V) was effectively attained. By use of the same photocatalytic reaction, MMA and DMA were also degraded into As(V), while the total organic carbon (TOC) in the aqueous phase was decreased. When an aqueous solution of As(III) was stirred with a mixed suspension of TiO2 and an adsorbent for As(V) (activated alumina) under sunlight irradiation, the arsenic removal reached 89% after 24 h. By use of the same photocatalyst-adsorbent system, 98% of MMA and 97% of DMA were removed. The mechanism of the removal of arsenic species by the photocatalyst-adsorbent system was discussed.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)75-80
Number of pages6
JournalJournal of Hazardous Materials
Volume120
Issue number1-3
DOIs
StatePublished - 11 Apr 2005

Keywords

  • Adsorbent
  • Arsenite
  • Organoarsenic compounds
  • Photocatalytic reaction
  • Removal

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