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
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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