Abstract:
Mobility of arsenate in sub-surface environment was investigated. The laboratory scale batch reactor was set up to investigate arsenate adsorption capacity by Thailand natural soils. Three types of soils: Sandy clay loam, Clay loam, and Loamy sand were used in this study. The effects of competing anions on arsenate adsorption were studied by adding 2 commonly found anions, phosphate and bicarbonate, to the solution. Solution pH was varied at 4, 7, and 10 to investigate the effects of hydrogen ions concentration on arsenate adsorption. Continuous flow column was set up to determine the dispersion coefficients and arsenate transport behaviors. Calculated parameters from both batch and column studies were used as input in the computer model, HYDRUS2D. HYDRUS2D was then used to predict the transport behaviors of arsenate through soils and the predicted values were compared with the experimental values. From both batch and column tests, pH was the controlling factor, arsenate adsorption on soils decrease with increasing pH. Types of soils also affected adsorption capacity. Sandy clay loam had the most adsorption capacity, and followed by Clay loam, and Loamy sand, respectively. In competitive tests, the arsenate adsorption capacity was decreased dramatically when phosphate was present. Oppositely with phosphate, bicarbonate was increased arsenate adsorption capacity. Additionally, Langmuir isotherm is with these all adsorption experiments. Derived from the column experiments, the dispersion coefficients of Sandy clay loam, Clay loam and Loamy sand are 2.93 x10[superscript 3], 2.75 x 10[superscript 3] and 10.63 x 10[superscript 3] cm2/s, respectively. The results derived from this studies and computer model can apply in the engineering applications, for instance, pump and treat remediation in arsenate contaminated sites. Phosphate solution, which is injected in contaminated soil, uses in effectively washing arsenate out of contaminated soil phase to the groundwater phase. Then contaminated groundwater is subsequently pumped and continuously treated by appropriate method.