Arsenic removal during conventional aluminium-based drinking-water treatment.

The changing forms and concentrations of arsenic through aluminium-based coagulation treatment processes were tracked for three drinking-water treatment plants. This has provided direct evidence of where and how arsenic is removed. In general, soluble As(V) is converted to particulate As(V) by adsorption during rapid mixing, and is removed along with naturally occurring particulate arsenic predominantly by clarification. Soluble As(III) tracks through the treatment processes and is converted to soluble As(V) during final chlorination. The ability of a water treatment process to achieve the maximum acceptable concentration for arsenic in drinking water is dependent on the concentration of As(III) in the source water.