Development of an integrated pilot system for treatment of arsenic containing groundwater water by using low cost solar collectors
The study has developed a system for the treatment of groundwater with a high content of natural arsenic from peri-urban areas of the city of Cochabamba, based on the application of low-cost solar collectors, built with materials and consumables easily accessible. The continuous flow system uses the Solar Oxidation Assisted Arsenic Removal Technique (SORAS) in an integrated way with a high speed settler and a filter for the removal of Fe(OH)3 flocs.
The objective of the project is the evaluation of arsenic removal yields under variable environmental conditions and the identification of maintenance needs to obtain enough information that makes possible an easy transfer of technology to areas affected by arsenic contamination in rural populations. and peri-urban of Bolivia.
The most important results of the study are the following:
- The performance of the pilot treatment system was satisfactory even on cloudy days with removals greater than 80%, managing to reduce the arsenic concentration to values well below what is required in the Bolivian drinking water standard.
- There is a very significant removal of arsenic (about 75%) in the path that goes from the wellhead to the entrance to the treatment system. The removal can be explained by the presence of inlays of iron (III) and manganese (IV) oxides deposited on the surface of the distribution line, which includes pipes and storage tanks, which can adsorb arsenates formed by aeration in the trajectory.
- Aeration with domestic commercial sprinklers can effectively achieve oxidation of arsenites to arsenates.
Project Leader:
Ramiro Escalera Vásquez, PhD.
Email: rescalera@upb.edu
Researchers:
Omar Ormachea Muñoz, PhD.
Miguel Heredia
References about the project: rescalera@upb.edu
