Efficiency of Arsenic Removal from Water Using Fe-Modified Biochar from Date-Palm-Leaves Combined with Spectral Induced Polarization (SIP) Monitoring

In this study, lab-scale column batch adsorption experiments were conducted to demonstrate the efficiency of Iron-modified Biochar (Fe-BC) produced from date-palm leaves at 500oC to remove arsenic (As) from contaminated water. The As removal capacity were monitored by both chemical analysis and spectral induced polarization (SIP) techniques. The results showed that high removal capacity of As was achieved when the sand-backed column was amended with 5 and 10% Fe-BC compared to sand only. Results showed that the Fe-BC achieved arsenic removal rates of more than 98% compared to the 17% by sand only (control).SIP monitoring over the duration of the experiment (16 hours) showed changes in the recorded signals that were consistent with the As removal, as confirmed by chemical analysis. It can be concluded that BC made from date-palm leaves and modified with Fe has shown excellent efficiency of removing As and that SIP can provide reliable and fast real time monitoring of the treatment process.