Abstract:
Arsenic contamination in ground water, used for drinking purpose, has been envisaged as a problem of
global concern. However, arsenic contamination of ground water in parts of South East Asia is assuming
greater proportions and posing a serious threat to the health of millions of people. A variety of treatment
technologies based on oxidation, co-precipitation, adsorption, ion exchange and membrane process are
available for the removal of arsenic from ground water. However, question remains regarding the efficiency
and applicability/appropriateness of the technologies, particularly because of low influent arsenic
concentration and differences in source water composition. Some of these methods are quite simple, but
the disadvantage associated with them is that they produce large amounts of toxic sludge, which needs
further treatment before disposal into the environment. Besides, the system must be economically viable
and socially acceptable. In this paper an attempt has been made to review and update the recent
advances made in the technological development in arsenic removal technologies to explore the
potential of those advances to address the problem of arsenic contamination in South East Asia.
