The application of rapid small-scale column tests in iron-based packed bed arsenic treatment systems

The rapid small-scale column test (RSSCT) is applicable to simulate pilot-scale performance for arsenate adsorption onto porous iron-based adsorbents. Commercially available granular ferric hydroxide (GFH) and Bayoxide Sorb33 (E33) have been evaluated for arsenate removal in this study. The BET surface area of GFH is 236 m(2)/g and for E33 is 129 m(2)/g. Both GFH and E33 possess identical pore size distribution. Proportional diffusivity (PD) and constant diffusivity (CD) based RSSCTs have been conducted with GFH and E33 and compared against corresponding pilot column performance. PD-RSSCTs simulated pilot column breakthrough Curves reasonably well, but CD-RSSCTs failed to correspond pilot scale performance. The column arsenate adsorption density (q(column)) varies from 0.3 - 0.4 mu g arsenate/mg dry GFH and 0.3-1.53 mu g arsenate/mg dry E33 for GFH and E33 respectively depending upon water quality.