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Mitigation and Remedy of Groundwater Arsenic Menace in India

Mitigation and Remedy of Groundwater Arsenic Menace in India

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<strong>Arsenic</strong>: Source, Occurrence <strong>and</strong> Geochemistry1.2.4 <strong>Arsenic</strong> SpeciationSpeciation <strong>of</strong> an element <strong>in</strong> water sample means determ<strong>in</strong>ation <strong>of</strong> the concentration <strong>of</strong>different physico-chemical forms <strong>of</strong> the element which together make up its total concentration <strong>in</strong>the sample. The speciation <strong>of</strong> arsenic <strong>in</strong> environmental material is <strong>of</strong> <strong>in</strong>terest because <strong>of</strong> the differentlevels <strong>of</strong> toxicity exhibited by various species. Species illustrate the various oxidation states thatarsenic commonly exhibits (-3, 0, +3, +5) <strong>and</strong> the result<strong>in</strong>g complexities <strong>of</strong> itschemistry <strong>in</strong> the environment. Nearly two dozen arsenic species are present <strong>in</strong> the environmental<strong>and</strong> biological systems. <strong>Arsenic</strong> <strong>in</strong> groundwater is present <strong>in</strong> various species like, H 3AsO 3, H 2AsO 3,HAsO 3, H 3AsO 4, H 2AsO 4, <strong>and</strong> HAsO 4. <strong>Arsenic</strong> species are generally present as arsenate [As(V)]or arsenite [As(III)] for Eh conditions prevalent <strong>in</strong> most groundwater. Both As(V) <strong>and</strong> As(III) formprotonates oxyanions <strong>in</strong> aqueous solutions <strong>and</strong> the degree <strong>of</strong> protonation depends on pH.Differences <strong>in</strong> their toxicity, biochemical <strong>and</strong> environmental behaviors require the determ<strong>in</strong>ation<strong>of</strong> these <strong>in</strong>dividual arsenic species.1.2.5 Influence <strong>of</strong> pHAlteration <strong>in</strong> the state <strong>of</strong> arsenic oxidation is usually <strong>in</strong>fluenced by Eh <strong>and</strong> pH. The mostsuitable pH for arsenic dissolution is low acidic (pH 12.1.2.6 Influence <strong>of</strong> compet<strong>in</strong>g ionsOther <strong>in</strong>tr<strong>in</strong>sic factors <strong>of</strong> a system which can also exert marked <strong>in</strong>fluence on theconcentration <strong>and</strong> speciation <strong>of</strong> arsenic <strong>in</strong>clude: solution composition, compet<strong>in</strong>g ions especially,the ratio <strong>of</strong> Phosphorous to As, <strong>and</strong> Selenium to As, nature <strong>and</strong> composition <strong>of</strong> solid phasespresent, reaction k<strong>in</strong>etics <strong>and</strong> flow regime.1.2.7 Biological transformation<strong>Arsenic</strong> undergoes a series <strong>of</strong> biological transformations <strong>in</strong> the aquatic environment,yield<strong>in</strong>g a large number <strong>of</strong> compounds, especially organo-arsenicals. Certa<strong>in</strong> reactions, such asoxidation <strong>of</strong> As(III) to As(V), may occur both <strong>in</strong> the presence <strong>and</strong> absence <strong>of</strong> microorganisms,whereas other reactions such as methylation, are not thermodynamically favorable <strong>in</strong> water <strong>and</strong>can occur only <strong>in</strong> the presence <strong>of</strong> organisms, which <strong>in</strong>dicates that many aquatic organisms arecapable <strong>of</strong> accumulat<strong>in</strong>g arsenic <strong>and</strong> may catalyse the oxidation <strong>of</strong> As(III) to As(V). Biologicaltransformation is significantly important <strong>in</strong> mar<strong>in</strong>e ecology.6NIH & CGWB

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