Grantee Research Project Results

Final Report: Removal of Arsenic from Groundwater Using Naturally Occurring Iron Oxides in Rural Regions of Mongolia

EPA Grant Number: SU833934
Title: Removal of Arsenic from Groundwater Using Naturally Occurring Iron Oxides in Rural Regions of Mongolia
Investigators: Gao, Di , Mccord, Edward L , Monnell, Jason
Institution: University of Pittsburgh
EPA Project Officer: Page, Angela
Phase: I
Project Period: October 1, 2008 through April 1, 2009
Project Amount: $9,999
RFA: P3 Awards: A National Student Design Competition for Sustainability Focusing on People, Prosperity and the Planet (2008) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Pollution Prevention/Sustainable Development , P3 Awards , P3 Challenge Area - Safe and Sustainable Water Resources , P3 Challenge Area - Chemical Safety , Sustainable and Healthy Communities

Objective:

These students contributed to this project: Brian J. Novicki, Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, Liangliang Cao, Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, Bradley Harden, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, Allison Hahn, Graduate School of Public and International Affairs, University Honors College, University of Pittsburgh

A rural population of over a million in Mongolia, one of the most disadvantaged regions in the world, suffers serious health problems as a result of drinking water with arsenic concentrations as high as 1,800 μg/L, which is 180 times over WHO’s drinking water guideline value. Because high arsenic concentrations are found in both shallow and deep wells and access to sanitized surface water and electricity is limited in this region, sustainable safe drinking water can only be supplied by effective removal of arsenic from groundwater. However, currently available methods for arsenic removal are unaffordable to the rural population where the average household income is less than $1,000 per household per year.

The objective of this project is to design and develop a low-cost method for effective removal of arsenic from groundwater using naturally occurring iron oxides that can be obtained at low prices in Mongolia. A key device involved in this method is a magnet drum separator which is used in two processes: (i) to prepare magnetic iron oxide particles by separating them from non-magnetic materials produced by grinding iron ores, and (ii) to separate and recycle magnetic iron oxide particles from water after they are used as adsorbents to effectively remove arsenic in water. The magnet drum separator will be designed and made to be able to operate with only human power but not electricity or gasoline. The developed method may be used affordably on a household scale, allowing for rapid dissemination into households in Mongolia through collaboration with local universities and research institutions.

Summary/Accomplishments (Outputs/Outcomes):

We have found that the iron oxide particles produced by grinding naturally occurring iron ores are very effective in removing arsenic from water. The arsenic adsorption isothermal of the particles has been characterized and an arsenic removal capacity of about 0.4 mg As/ g particle has been observed. This indicates that 1 pound of such particles is able to provide 30 gallons of arsenic-safe drinking groundwater in the arsenic-contaminated area of Mongolia by decreasing the arsenic concentration from about 1,800 μg/L to below 10 μg/L.

We have designed and made the magnet drum separator and optimized its performance using engineering design principles. The device can be operated in a continuous mode with only human power, and is able to process 1 gallon of water in 5 minutes. The water flow and the trajectory of the magnetic particles in the device have been simulated numerically to guide the design and operation of the device. Both experimental results and numerical modeling indicate that the magnetic particles can be efficiently separated from water and recovered by the magnet drum, and the concentrations of both the arsenic, the particles, and the iron in the treated water satisfy the WHO’s drinking water guideline value.

Students involved in the research have gained international views on the importance of clean water and sustainable engineering to the developing world. In addition, such research activities conducted by a US university improve the public awareness of arsenic contamination in drinking water and provide decision-makers in the surrounding communities of Mongolia with scientific information on the importance of clean drinking water.

We have established partnership with research institutions and universities in China and Mongolia, including (i) Shenyang Institute of Environmental Sciences (China) who has provided safe drinking water to more than 50,000 rural residents in the past 10 years, (ii) Tsinghua University (China), who has been our partner for international field study in China every summer for the past 5 years, and (iii) the National University of Mongolia (Mongolia), who has been our partner for the unique Mongolia Field Studies Program developed since its inception in 1998.

Conclusions:

In Phase I of the project, we have designed and developed the process and device for effective removal of arsenic from groundwater. Water treated by this process satisfies the WHO’s drinking water guideline value. We estimate the cost of each device is below $5 and, once made, it can be used for at least 20 years. Because the process can be completed by one person in the household without the use of electricity or gasoline and the price of iron oxide particles in Mongolia is about $30/ton (or 1.3 cents/pound), the operational cost is estimated to be less than 0.05 cent/gallon water. This process is affordable to the household in Mongolia. With successful development of the device prototype, a field test will be conducted this summer in Mongolia through collaboration with our partners in China and Mongolia.

Proposed Phase II Objectives and Strategies:

In Phase II of the project, we have the following objectives:

Scale up the manufacturing process with the aim of limiting the device cost to be less than $5 and the operational cost to be less than 0.05 cent/gallon water.
Test the device and process in the Southern Gobi region of Mongolia.
Manufacture and disseminate 1,000 devices to households.
Improve the public awareness of arsenic contamination in Mongolia.
Establish through this project a lifespan of learning and contributions to the nation of Mongolia well beyond the two years of EPA funding.

We will meet these objectives upon (i) the success in device and process development of our Phase I project, (ii) our established partnership with the local research institute who has provided safe drinking water to more than 50,000 rural residents in the past 10 years, and (iii) the unique strength of the Mongolia Field Studies Program developed over many years by the University of Pittsburgh Honors College (UHC).

Specifically, we will (i) conduct field study in the Southern Gobi region of Mongolia through our partnership with the National University of Mongolia, (ii) scale up the device manufacturing process through our collaboration with Shenyang Institute of Environmental Science, (iii) disseminate the device to 1,000 households in Inner and Outer Mongolia with the assistance of Tsinghua University (China) and the National University of Mongolia, (iv) educate American and Mongolia students on the enhanced sustainable environmental awareness and problem-solving capabilities in a real life setting of political and social challenge through our Mongolia Field Studies Program.

Journal Articles on this Report : 1 Displayed | Download in RIS Format

Publications Views
Other project views:	All 3 publications	1 publications in selected types	All 1 journal articles

Publications
Type	Citation	Project	Document Sources
Journal Article	Cao A-M, Monnell JD, Matranga C, Wu J-M, Cao L-L, Gao D. Hierarchical nanostructured copper oxide and its application in arsenic removal. Journal of Physical Chemistry C 2007;111(50):18624-18628.	SU833934 (Final)	Abstract: ACS abstract Exit

Supplemental Keywords:

groundwater, water purification, arsenic removal, hematite, magnetite, magnetic pump

Relevant Websites:

Our EPA project is highlighted by America.gov, a website of U.S. Department of State. The article is entitled: "Universities Collaborate to Improve Water Quality in China--Inexpensive arsenic removal process uses 'people power,' not electricity". This article has been translated into 3 languages:

English version: http://www.america.gov/st/envenglish/2008/December/20081217120617abretnuh5.016273e-02.html?CP.rss=true
Chinese version: http://www.america.gov/st/healthchinese/2008/December/20081219110711abretnuh0.2219049.html
Mongolian version: http://www.america.gov/st/envpersian/2008/December/20090101140533abretnuh0.2015802.html

Our project is also listed as the 1st example of EPA award-winning projects in another highlighted article "U.S. College Students Offer Innovations in Global Sustainability" on America.gov: http://www.america.gov/st/envenglish/2008/December/20081217120535abretnuh0.4711529.html&distid=ucs
University Honors College Mongolia Field Studies Program: http://www.abroad.pitt.edu/pantherprograms/uhcmongolia.html#prog

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The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.