Removal of arsenic and fluoride from water using sand filters, iron and solar distillation
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.37636/recit.v9n3e491Keywords:
Filters, Removal, Arsenic, Fluoride, Water, Solar distillationAbstract
Prototypes for purifying water are a viable economic and environmental option accessible to households and urban areas. This proposal aligns with the human right to water established by the UN and Sustainable Development Goals 6 and 11 of the 2030 Agenda. The objective of this study is to evaluate the efficiency of three prototypes for removing arsenic (As) and fluoride (F) from water in a community in the state of Chihuahua. A proposal was developed for the design, construction, and operation of two sand filters with iron nails and a solar distiller. The As concentrations (0.0307–0.4527 mg/L) and F (2.32–8.75 mg/L) recorded in the Meoqui-Delicias aquifer are comparable to those in the San José well in the community of La Regina, where the maximum concentration of As was 0.324 mg/L and that of F was 33.39 mg/L. The homemade filter achieved up to 96% removal of As and 95% removal of F; for the community filter, the combined removal efficiency for As and F was over 72%, and for the solar distiller, over 88%. Efficiency depended on the number and size of the nails, filtration times, and type of sand. The homemade filter in Test 2 achieved an As concentration of 0.009 mg/L, and the solar distiller in Test 17 achieved As and F concentrations of 0.002 and 0.86 mg/L, respectively; however, the treated water is still not potable. The current challenge is to engage communities in adapting and operating these systems.
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