Arsenic removal from household drinking water by biochar and biochar composites: A focus on scale-up

Abstract

Arsenic (As) is a metalloid present in environmental matrixes worldwide. Arsenic concentrations vary in natural waters and depend on local factors such as geology, hydrology, and geochemical characteristics of the aquifer (Akter et al., 2005). The WHO recommends a maximum arsenic concentration 10μg L 1 for drinking water or less, but natural groundwater concentrations of >10μg L 1 have been reported in over 120 countries, with the highest concentrations in Argentina, Bangladesh, Chile, China, Hungary, India, Mexico, Nepal, Romania, Taiwan, Vietnam, and USA. The occurrence, distribution, and origin of As in water have received a lot of attention in the last two decades, including comprehensive books and papers.