It isn't clear what your ...
Published by Joseph Cotruvo, President at Joseph Cotruvo & Associates, Water , Environment and Public Health
3 Comments
Also, you can't break down arsenic to non toxic materials. You would have to remove it if it is a problem. Iron oxides will adsorb arsenic, but it would settle to the bottom and then be released slowly.
Published by Joseph Cotruvo, President at Joseph Cotruvo & Associates, Water , Environment and Public Health
Lime can be used in lakes for metals, although it will change the pH which high harm the fish. Iron oxide and alumina have been used for lake contamination to precipitate metals but they can also have major effects on fish.
Published by Joseph Cotruvo, President at Joseph Cotruvo & Associates, Water , Environment and Public Health
Joseph, I am referring to the break down of Arsenic into non-toxic elements in natural lakes and water systems. Not so sure if adding lime will achieve this.
Published by Dave Gaybba, Managing Director
1 Comment
You cannot "break down" arsenic into benign compounds like you can with organic pollutants like solvents or hydrocarbons. Metals (well, technically arsenic is a metalloid) are irreducible. All you can do is precipitate the dissolved ions out of solution through various means. Arsenic and most heavy metals are stable and non-leachable under anaerobic reducing conditions (i.e., in sediments). Thus, if you precipitate them in situ they will settle to the bottom of the water body, become incorporated into sediments and generally not create problems in the ecosystem, but this is somewhat site-specific.
It is difficult to help you further without knowing more about the water body(s) your are trying to remediate and what the source of the pollutants is. Since you are in South Africa I am guessing the pollutant source is mining-related and ongoing. In that case, you should first look into options for source control, i.e., installing low-permeability covers over waste rock and tailings piles, plugging or installing treatment systems at draining tunnels and adits, etc.
Published by Daniel Dean