Small-scale and household methods to remove arsenic from water for drinking purposes in Latin America

M.I. LITTER; M. T. ALARCON-HERRERA; M.J. ARENAS; M.A. ARMIENTA; M. AVILES; R.E. CÁCERES; H.N. CIPRIANI; L. CORNEJO; L.E. DIAS; A. FERNÁNDEZ CIRELLI; E.M. FARFAN; S. GARRIDO; L. LORENZO; M.E. MORGADA; M.A. OLMOS; A. PEREZ CARRERA

SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT

Elsevier

Año: 2012

0048-9697

Small-scale and household low-cost technologies to provide water free of arsenic for drinking purposes,41 suitable for isolated rural and periurban areas not connected to water networks in Latin America are42 described. Some of them are merely adaptation of conventional technologies already used at large and43 medium scale, but others are environmentally friendly emerging procedures that use local materials and44 resources of the affected zone. The technologies require simple and low-cost equipment that can be easily45 handled and maintained by the local population. The methods are based on the following processes:46 combination of coagulation/flocculation with adsorption, adsorption with geological and other low-cost47 natural materials, electrochemical technologies, biological methods including phytoremediation, use of48 zerovalent iron and photochemical processes. Examples of relevant research studies and developments in the49 region are given. In some cases, processes have been tested only at the laboratory level and there is not50 enough information about the costs. However, it is considered that the presented technologies constitute51 potential alternatives for arsenic removal in isolated rural and periurban localities of Latin America.52 Generation, handling and adequate disposal of residues should be taken into account in all cases.