Removal of arsenic from water through ceramic filter modified by nano-CeO2: A cost-effective approach for remote areas

Abstract The groundwater with high arsenic concentration is widespread, especially in many remote areas of developing countries. Arsenic existing in drinking water sources has a high risk to human health. In this study, an innovative effort to remove As(V) from water using ceramic filters functionalized with CeO2 nanocomposites (CF-CeO2) was investigated. Considering removal efficiency and flow rate, the suitable coating amount of CeO2 was determined for the production of CF-CeO2. Based on the factorial analysis, influent arsenic concentration and pH were found to be significant factors in As(V) removal. Furthermore, CF-CeO2 exhibited a good removal capability over a wide pH range and was insensitive to the change of background electrolyte concentration. In the treatment of natural water, the existence of medium and low turbidity levels facilitated As(V) removing, while the high turbidity level exhibited the opposite effect. Based on macroscopic experiments and microscopic characterizations, it was revealed that the As(V) removal mechanism by the CF-CeO2 mainly included ion-exchange and electrostatic attraction. The findings in this study provided convincing evidence for the use of CF-CeO2 as a high-efficiency, low-cost, and safe approach for water purification in the remote areas of developing countries.