KAF Bio-Sand Filter: Arsenic Be Gone!

By Patrick Cox, Fan Chen 16 October, 2014

Patrick Cox & Fan Chen from Geo-Life Inc walks us through a holistic treatment of arsenic contamination

Arsenic poisoning also known as arsenicosis occurs when a person’s body contains greater than normal levels of arsenic, a semi-metallic element. The naturally occurring presence of arsenic in groundwater is a major problem in parts of Cambodia, India and China that affects millions of rural people.
These countries have rivers that flow from major mountain ranges that carry large volumes of sediment and arsenic is carried in these sediments, which are deposited in riverbanks and floodplains. The arsenic is released from the sediments and dissolves into groundwater aquifers. These contaminated waters are pumped to the surface by wells and consumed by the local population which causes arsenicosis. Arsenic use in and discharge from industry is another source of water contamination.

The “KAF Bio-Sand Filter” – how it works

The Kanchan Arsenic Filter (KAF) was developed to remove arsenic from drinking water by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and a Nepali NGO, Environment and Public Health Organization (ENPHO) based on 7 years of extensive inter-disciplinary laboratory and field studies in rural villages of Nepal (Ngai et al, 2006). This arsenic removal filter will remove arsenic from any source, be it natural or man-made. Basically, this design is effective anywhere there is arsenic contamination.
KAF has been designed to allow for a filter loading rate (flow rate per square meter of filter area) which has proven to be effective in laboratory and field tests. This filter loading rate has been determined to be not more than 600 litres/hour/square metre.

Kanchan Arsenic Filter (KAF) will remove arsenic from any source, be it natural or man-made and is effective anywhere there is arsenic contamination

• Polluted / contaminated water is poured into the top of the bio-sand filter. 

• The water flows over the bed of brick chips covering iron nails then through the diffuser, and percolates down through the biological layer, sand and gravel. The rust on the nails removes arsenic and the biological layer removes pathogens from the water.

• This treated water then flows through the valve outlet pipe.

• The contaminated water is aerated while it is flowing through the brick chips, nails and diffuser. Dissolved oxygen in the water is provided to the biological layer.

Cambodia field tests show over 95% removal

The phase 1 field testing results are positive for people living in rural Cambodia. The contaminated water in the field testing site contains high arsenic and phosphate levels, which must be lowered to less than 50 ppb to provide safe drinking water. KAF iron nails has been found highly effective.

Field tests show a 95-97% average removal percentage range
…in addition, there is no increase arsenic concentration over a 30 week period

All 10 test filters have consistently reduced arsenic levels from an average of 637 ppb to less than 50 ppb. That is a 95-97% average removal percentage range. In addition, there is no increase arsenic concentration over a 30 week period (8400 liters of water filtered).
This bio sand filter will remove up to 90 percent of most chemical pollution. A properly functioning slow sand filter is capable of removing diesel contaminants present in water from less than 1 mg/L down to less than .07 mg/L, and heavy oil contaminants from less than 1 mg/L down to less than 0.095 mg/L.
More information on KAF here or visit Geo Life.

Disposal of arsenic waste post remediation

The arsenic waste produced post-remediation raises further issues in developing countries. The disposal of arsenic waste is difficult because of leaching or loss of arsenic from waste can result in further contamination.

Arsenic waste produced post-remediation raises further issues
A low cost solid waste treatment for the arsenic remediation sludge is to mix it with cow-dung so as to form methylate arsenic which then no longer poses a risk

Adsorbent technology often results in the formation of arsenic-containing liquid-waste that requires a high standard of waste management for proper and safe disposal. Therefore adsorbents resulting in a solid waste, that is suitable for landfill, are preferable.
One such solid waste method suggests that arsenic remediation sludge be mixed with cow-dung so as to form methylate arsenic which then no longer poses a risk. This is similar to the use of sludge in brick making; mixing it with clay immobilises the arsenic.
Designing efficient, long lasting materials that do not require frequent regeneration (hence minimising the total volume of waste needed to be disposed of), is the best way to effectively tackle the issue of waste resulting from arsenic removal.

Further Reading

• The War on Water Pollution – Premier Li Keqiang has just declared war on pollution. Tan expands on the government’s stratagems & offensives and fundamental changes required to shore up the MEP’s arsenal in order to wage a successful war

Arsenic and other heavy metals in China’s water & soil

• Heavy Metals & Agriculture – Check out China Water Risk’s overview of the status of heavy metals discharge into wastewater, priority provinces, overlap with agriculture sown lands, crops exposed and industries targeted for clean-up
• China’s Coast: Unbearable Weight of Heavy Metals – Environmental toxicologist Dr. Tan Qiaoguo from Xiamen University on historical trends of heavy metal pollution in China’s coastal waters & the worrying amount of heavy metals carried by China’s rivers to the sea
• MEP & MLR: First Nationwide Soil Pollution Survey Published – Results of the first nationwide survey on soil pollution conducted by the MEP & MLR was released. Soil statistics previously considered to be state secret revealed that 19% of farmland sampled is contaminated
• Soil Pollution Standards & Proposed Law – 6 new standards on soil pollution testing were put in force last year. “Soil Pollution Prevention & Remediation Action Plan” and “Soil Environmental Protection Law” expected in 2014
• 8 Things You Should Know: Rice & Water – How much of water & farmlands are used to grow rice in China? What about exposure to Cadmium, Mercury, Lead & Arsenic? Can China ensure rice security? Here are 8 things you should know about rice & water in China
• 8 Facts on China’s Wastewater – Don’t know anything about wastewater in China? Is it on the rise? Is industrial wastewater under-reported? Is it worse for rural areas? Check out our 8 facts from tech, key pollutants to standards