Arsenic-Adsorbent Bayoxide^® E 33

 

As a naturally occuring contaminant, arsenic is found in various concentrations within the groundwater of many countries. Over 400 studies have identified a correlation between certain health risks and consuming elevated levels of arsenic.

According to estimates, more than 100 million people throughout the world regularly drink water with an arsenic content above 50 µg/L (micrograms per liter, ppb). Based on medical studies, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended in 1992 that a threshold for arsenic in drinking water of 10 µg/L (ppb) be introduced worldwide. The European Union and United States have implemented new legislation reducing the arsenic threshold in drinking water to 10 µg/L.

Facing future compliance, many regions in Asia, Europe, South America and the U.S are seeking solutions because they have arsenic levels that currently exceed the new MCL. LANXESS has developed an iron oxide with the brand name Bayoxide^® E 33 specifically for the removal of arsenic from drinking water and non-drinking water sources. When water from a source is pumped through a vessel or a series of vessels containing Bayoxide^® E 33, it passes through a fixed bed of the media where arsenic is adsorbed quickly and selectively. 
Through the cooperation with our partner _Severn Trent Services - a global water and wastewater treatment solutions provider - LANXESS has been able to secure the technology of arsenic removal world-wide. _Severn Trent Services has developed and refined the technology of fixed bed adsorption under their SORB 33^® product line of arsenic removal treatment systems.

The Sorb 33™ system and Bayoxide^® E 33 are marketed by _Severn Trent Services, a sister company of Severn Trent Water.

_Bayoxide^® E33
Bayoxide^® E 33 is nanoparticular  FeOOH with a very high surface area and high adsorption capacity. At the same time, the granules are stable to the stream of water. The Bayoxide^® E 33 granules are marketed with a particle size of 0.5-2 mm and a bulk density of 0.4-0.6 g/cm3. Compared with conventional adsorber media, Bayoxide^® E33 is noted for its significantly higher capacity for arsenic removal. As a result, the fixed iron oxide bed lasts very much longer.

_Bayoxide^® E33 P
Grades with a particularly narrow  particle size distribution like the pelletized Bayoxide^® E 33 P are an advantage because pressure drop is reduced across the media bed. Moreover, the good flow properties of Bayoxide^® E 33 P improve product handling.

_Bayoxide^® E33 HC
The Bayoxide^® E 33 line also contains an adsorber media with particularly high adsorption capacity and, at the same time, a high arsenic abrasion stability, namely Bayoxide^® E 33 HC.


In addition to velocity, the other key process parameter is empty bed contact time (EBCT), which defines the amount of water residence within the bed required to effect complete arsenic adsorption.
The _SORB 33^® system requires no chemicals, no cleaning or other labor-intensive steps.
With naturally occuring arsenic concentrations of 10-50 µg/L, contact times of 3-5 min result in a flat breakthrough curve. A flat breakthrough curve with a slow breakthrough characteristic gives plenty of warning when the bed needs to be replaced.
Extremely high arsenic concentrations in the range of 2.5 mg/L of As(III) and As(V) are effectively adsorbed with an adapted contact time of 7 min. Even industrial effluent with a high arsenic content can be easily treated in this way.
In addition to arsenic, Bayoxide^® E 33 also removes other contaminants such as phosphate, antimony, lead, cadmium and vanadium.
A detailed water quality analysis of a wide range of parameters for each location with arsenic contamination should be obtained. Waters in similar regions can differ significantly.  The water analysis should consist of both basic values and special analysis for species that have the potential to interfere with the performance of a treatment technology.
A pilot test or laboratory testings can be undertaken to predict the full-scale performance of the arsenic removal treatment system.
The adsorber systems are available for all kinds of capacity, even for lower throughputs.