Sorption of As(V) by goethite particles and study of their flocculation

Arsenate oxyanions were removed from aqueous solutions by sorption onto syn thetic goethite, which was applied as fine particulate suspension during la boratory experiments. The main parameters affecting this treatment process were investigated, namely the concentrations of goethite and of arsenic(V), contact time, temperature, solution pH values and ionic strength variation s, and typical adsorption isotherms were calculated. The study of flocculat ion of goethite particulates in bench scale was subsequently carried out in presence of pentavalent arsenic (being a toxic pollutant), by applying an appropriate optical technique. The flocculation dynamics of dispersed goeth ite particles was examined, complemented by turbidity and electrophoretic m obility measurements.