Study of arsenic removal by nanofiltration and its application in China

Arsenic contamination of groundwater and associated health risks have been reported in many parts of China. Nanofiltration (NF) is a promising technology for arsenic removal since it requires less energy than traditional reverse osmosis membranes. In this study, the removal of arsenic from synthetic waters by nanofiltration (NF) membranes was investigated. Arsenic rejection experiments included variation of arsenic feed concentration, pH, and existence of other ionic compounds. The possible influence of natural organic matter on As (V) rejection by nanofiltration membranes was also explored. The study shows the nanofiltration point-of-use (POU) systems were particularly suitable to treat arsenic-rich groundwater in suburban China.