The enrichment and removal of arsenic (III) from water samples using HFSLM

At specific concentrations oxyanions such as arsenic pose a major threat to human beings and to the environment because of their ability to biomagnify. The World Health Organization has set the drinking water standard at 10 μg l−1 for arsenic. It is in this regard that novel and cheaper methods to detect oxyanions and remove them from the environment are developed. In this work, we have developed sample preparation methods involving solid phase and liquid membrane for the extraction and enrichment of these oxyanions in aqueous environments. Various parameters which govern their optimal extraction and enrichment have been optimised. The manipulation of the liquid membrane extraction process was utilised to selectively extract arsenic (III) which is more toxic as compared to arsenic (V). The liquid membrane consisted of a combination of two organic solvents, and n-undecane and di-n-hexyl ether were used in a combination at various ratios of the two liquid membranes. The means of detection was by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectroscopy (GFAAS) as well as inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). The applicability of the method was tested in real wastewater samples where it was able to remove at least 50% of As (III) with enrichment factors of up to 20.