New Technology Cost-Effectively Removes Arsenic from Water

Engelhard Corporation has developed technology to enable smaller municipalities to more efficiently and cost-effectively meet tough new standards for the removal of arsenic from drinking water.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has adopted new standards that lower the maximum contaminant level for arsenic in any U.S. drinking water system to 10 parts per billion (ppb), down from the current 50 ppb, starting in January 2006. According to the EPA, 97 percent of the affected water systems are small, serving fewer than 10,000 people each.

In laboratory tests, Engelhard's new ARM 200(TM) adsorbents demonstrated six to eight times the arsenic capacity of activated alumina adsorbents. Unlike some traditional water-purification technologies, use of ARM 200 does not require high capital investment and does not create an arsenic disposal problem.

"Our tests indicate that ARM 200 will deliver very good cost-in-use performance," said Shawn Beavers, product manager. "We developed the adsorbent to help smaller water systems meet the new federal drinking water standard for arsenic in the most cost effective way possible."

In laboratory tests, ARM 200 removed more than 99 percent of arsenic even in the presence of competing ions. It also removed both forms of arsenic with no preoxidation or pre-treatment.

The adsorbent is available in coarse granular form for municipal applications and in fine granular form for home filter use. ARM 200 also can be supplied in powder form for incorporation into block-type home filters or for use as additives in municipal and industrial applications.

Source: Engelhard Corporation