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Arsenic Pollution: Sources, Modes of Enrichment, Mechanisms of Release, and...
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Arsenic Pollution: Sources, Modes of Enrichment, Mechanisms of Release, and Mitigation Strategies

A special issue of Minerals (ISSN 2075-163X). This special issue belongs to the section "Environmental Mineralogy and Biogeochemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 March 2023) | Viewed by 8803

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Harshad V. Kulkarni

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Mandi, Himachal Pradesh 175005, India
Interests: biogeochemistry; trace element geochemistry; geomicrobiology
Dr. Santanu Majumder

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
Interests: environmental analytical chemistry and method development; arsenic geochemistry; speciation and mitigation; environmental nanosciences; trace elements in environment; speciation and their geochemistry

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Arsenic pollution has caused health risks to millions globally due to the contamination of drinking water and food. Arsenic is a metalloid that is found in over 200 known mineral forms, many of which are sulfides and oxides. Arsenic contamination can be attributed to both natural (geogenic) and anthropogenic (mining) sources, and, depending upon geochemical and transport conditions and exposure, the health effects can be widespread and severe. Several geochemical and microbial mechanisms have been attributed to the mobility of this metalloid in aqueous systems, such as the oxidation of sulfide minerals, the reductive dissolution of iron (oxy)hydroxides, pH-dependent desorption, as well as geothermally influenced dissolution and desorption. The recent literature has shown that mineral solubility, the redox state of the system, the presence of competing ions, natural organic matter (NOM), and microbial reactions are some of the important factors that affect the mobility of arsenic. Various arsenic mitigation strategies are under consideration, including pump-n-treat, point of use treatment, in situ arsenic stabilization, or switching to an alternative source of water, all of which have their own pros and cons. There is a growing need for the development of economically viable and environmentally sustainable arsenic mitigation technologies and strategies. For this Special Issue, we invite original research papers that investigate sources of arsenic in various natural as well as contaminated environments, modes of arsenic enrichment via physical and geochemical pathways, mechanisms of release under diverse environmental conditions and via abiotic as well as microbial processes, and mitigation strategies. The studies may include but are not limited to controlled experiments in the laboratory, field investigations, geochemical, statistical and numerical modeling or their combinations, and the pilot-scale or field-scale implementation of arsenic mitigation strategies. This issue will be divided into four sections:

  1. Occurrence of arsenic in the environment: sources, mode of enrichment, and mechanisms of release.
  2. Analytical method development and state-of-the-art technological advancements for varied sample matrices.
  3. Mitigation strategies: chemical and biological methods for immobilization of arsenic in aquatic systems, experimental, pilot- or full-scale implementation, and life-cycle analyses of treatment systems.
  4. Management of the crisis, policy implications and regulatory affairs from socioeconomic perspectives.

Dr. Harshad V. Kulkarni
Dr. Santanu Majumder
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Minerals is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • arsenic
  • groundwater contamination
  • arsenic mitigation
  • arsenic mobilization

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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19 pages, 2006 KiB  
Article
Mineralogical Associations of Sedimentary Arsenic within a Contaminated Aquifer Determined through Thermal Treatment and Spectroscopy
by Thomas S. Varner, Harshad V. Kulkarni, Mesbah Uddin Bhuiyan, M. Bayani Cardenas, Peter S. K. Knappett and Saugata Datta
Minerals 2023, 13(7), 889; https://doi.org/10.3390/min13070889 - 30 Jun 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1746
Abstract
Sedimentary arsenic (As) in the shallow aquifers of Bangladesh is enriched in finer-grained deposits that are rich in organic matter (OM), clays, and iron (Fe)-oxides. In Bangladesh, sediment color is a useful indicator of pore water As concentrations. The pore waters of orange [...] Read more.
Sedimentary arsenic (As) in the shallow aquifers of Bangladesh is enriched in finer-grained deposits that are rich in organic matter (OM), clays, and iron (Fe)-oxides. In Bangladesh, sediment color is a useful indicator of pore water As concentrations. The pore waters of orange sediments are usually associated with lower As concentrations (<50 µg/L) owing to abundant Fe-oxides which sorb As. Using this color signal as a guide, spectroscopic measurements alongside thermal treatment were extensively utilized for analyzing the properties of both Fe-oxides and clay minerals. This study uses Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and diffuse reflectance (DR) measurements along with thermal treatment to evaluate the solid-phase associations of As from sediment collected along the Meghna River in Bangladesh. The samples analyzed in this study were chosen to represent the various lithologies present at the study site and included riverbank sands (1 m depth), silt (6 m depth), aquifer sand (23 m depth), and a clay aquitard (37 m depth). The concentrations of sedimentary As and Fe were measured by X-ray fluorescence, and the spectroscopic measurements were taken on the samples prior to the thermal treatment. For the thermal treatment, sediment samples were placed in a preheated furnace at 600 °C for 3 h. The thermal treatment caused a deepening of reddish-brown hues in all samples, and the greatest change in color was observed in the finer-grained samples. The FTIR spectral analysis revealed that the clay minerals were composed primarily of illite, smectite, and kaolinite. The DR results indicate that the majority of Fe in sands was present as goethite; however, in the clay and silt samples, Fe was incorporated into the structure of clay minerals as Fe(II). The amount of structural Fe(II) was strongly positively correlated with the sedimentary As concentrations, which were highest in the finer-grained samples. After thermal treatment, the concentrations of As in the finer-grained samples decreased by an average of 40%, whereas the change in the As concentrations of the sand samples was negligible. These findings indicate that significant proportions of solid-phase As may be retained by OM and Fe(II)-bearing clay minerals. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Arsenic Pollution: Sources, Modes of Enrichment, Mechanisms of Release, and Mitigation Strategies)
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11 pages, 1134 KiB  
Article
Comparing the Uptake of Arsenic by Barley and Oats Growing in a Semiarid Area Irrigated with Either Groundwater or Treated Wastewater
by Jesus M. Ochoa-Rivero, Mélida Gutiérrez, Alan Álvarez-Holguín, Héctor O. Rubio-Arias, Beatriz A. Rocha-Gutiérrez and Omar C. Ponce-García
Minerals 2023, 13(2), 175; https://doi.org/10.3390/min13020175 - 25 Jan 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1737
Abstract
Groundwater and domestic wastewater are often used in conjunction with surface water to irrigate crops in semiarid areas. A concern associated with this practice is the potential accumulation of arsenic (As) and heavy metals in soil and plants, especially in places where irrigation [...] Read more.
Groundwater and domestic wastewater are often used in conjunction with surface water to irrigate crops in semiarid areas. A concern associated with this practice is the potential accumulation of arsenic (As) and heavy metals in soil and plants, especially in places where irrigation water contains geogenic As. Studies on arsenic uptake in cereal crops growing under dry and oxidizing conditions are scarce. A one-year field experiment was conducted to evaluate the uptake and translocation of As in barley and oats irrigated with either groundwater (GW) or treated domestic wastewater (TWW) in northern Mexico. The content of As, as well as toxic metals Cd and Pb, were determined in soil and 24 sets each of barley and oat plants. Metal(loid)s accumulated more in the roots and leaves, and less in the stems and grains. Barley grains contained 0.2 mg/kg of As under GW or TWW, whereas oat grains contained twice this amount. Bioconcentration (BCF) and translocation (TF) factors were < 1 for As and Cd in plants irrigated with both GW and TWW indicating that neither barley nor oats are As-accumulators, and their grain and leaves can be safely used for fodder. However, oats irrigated with TWW bioaccumulated Pb in leaves. Conscientious monitoring of As and associated metals in soil and crops irrigated with TWW and GW is recommended. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Arsenic Pollution: Sources, Modes of Enrichment, Mechanisms of Release, and Mitigation Strategies)
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17 pages, 2168 KiB  
Article
Isolation and Identification of Arsenic Hyper-Tolerant Bacterium with Potential Plant Growth Promoting Properties from Soil
by Debjani Mandal, Mina Aghababaei, Sadhan Kr Das, Santanu Majumder, Debashis Chatterjee and Abhishek Basu
Minerals 2022, 12(11), 1452; https://doi.org/10.3390/min12111452 - 17 Nov 2022
Viewed by 1821
Abstract
The soil and groundwater of the Bhagobangola I block of Murshidabad district, West Bengal, India is severely arsenic-contaminated. A bacterium was isolated from the garden soil of the Mahishasthali village, which could tolerate 36.49 mM arsenic (III), 280.44 mM arsenic (V) and 63 [...] Read more.
The soil and groundwater of the Bhagobangola I block of Murshidabad district, West Bengal, India is severely arsenic-contaminated. A bacterium was isolated from the garden soil of the Mahishasthali village, which could tolerate 36.49 mM arsenic (III), 280.44 mM arsenic (V) and 63 mM chromium (III), which makes it arsenic (III and V) and chromium (III) hyper-tolerant bacterium. The growth pattern of this bacterium does not show much alteration in the presence of 10 mM arsenic (III) and chromium (III), emphasizing its resistance to these heavy metals. Scanning electron microscopic analysis depicted this bacterium to be rod-shaped with a size of ~1.45 µm. 16S rDNA sequencing, followed by subsequent phylogenetic analysis, established the identity of this bacterium as Microbacterium paraoxydans. This bacterium is capable of bioremediation of arsenic and showed 30.8% and 35.2% of bioremediation for 1mM and 22.6%, and 30.5% of bioremediation for 4mM arsenite, over a period of 24 and 48 h, respectively. Microbacterium paraoxydans also exhibits potential plant growth-promoting properties such as nitrogen fixation, phosphate solubilization, indole-3-acetic acid production and production of siderophores. Therefore, the heavy metal resistance, bioremediation potential and plant growth-promoting potential of the bacterium could be utilized not only for reduction in arsenic toxicity in soil and groundwater but also for plant growth promotion. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Arsenic Pollution: Sources, Modes of Enrichment, Mechanisms of Release, and Mitigation Strategies)
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18 pages, 5731 KiB  
Article
Enhanced Stability of Scorodite in Oxic and Anoxic Systems via Surface Coating with Hydroxyapatite and Fluorapatite
by Sônia D. F. Rocha, Lydia Katsarou and George P. Demopoulos
Minerals 2022, 12(8), 1014; https://doi.org/10.3390/min12081014 - 12 Aug 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1206
Abstract
With the objective of enhancing the stability of scorodite, its encapsulation with hydroxyapatite (Ca5(PO4)3OH) (HAP) and fluorapatite (Ca5(PO4)3F) (FAP) surface coatings, the two most stable of the calcium phosphates, inert to [...] Read more.
With the objective of enhancing the stability of scorodite, its encapsulation with hydroxyapatite (Ca5(PO4)3OH) (HAP) and fluorapatite (Ca5(PO4)3F) (FAP) surface coatings, the two most stable of the calcium phosphates, inert to pH and redox potential variations, are presented in this work. The experimental work includes: (1) determination of the metastable zone for HAP and FAP precipitation, (2) the synthesis of crystalline scorodite under atmospheric conditions using hydrothermal scorodite seed and its characterization, (3) the coating of scorodite with hydroxyapatite and fluorapatite with supersaturation-controlled heterogeneous crystallization, and (4) the long-term stability of the encapsulated scorodite solids. Hydroxyapatite and fluorapatite were prepared with homogeneous precipitation from a metastable solution to which reagents were added at a controlled flow rate. Crystalline scorodite was produced with seeding precipitation and encapsulated with a direct apatite (HAP or FAP) deposition that was controlled by adjusting the pH and reagent addition. The stability tests in oxic and anoxic environments over the pH range of 5–9 showed the release of arsenic from the apatite-coated scorodite to be much lower than from naked scorodite, thereby demonstrating that apatite-based encapsulation of hazardous materials is technically feasible and merits further consideration for development into an arsenic stabilizing technology. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Arsenic Pollution: Sources, Modes of Enrichment, Mechanisms of Release, and Mitigation Strategies)
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Review

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18 pages, 367 KiB  
Review
A Review of Theoretical Knowledge and Practical Applications of Iron-Based Adsorbents for Removing Arsenic from Water
by Thi Hai Nguyen, Tien Vinh Nguyen, Saravanamuthu Vigneswaran, Nguyen Thi Hoang Ha and Harsha Ratnaweera
Minerals 2023, 13(6), 741; https://doi.org/10.3390/min13060741 - 30 May 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1145
Abstract
Groundwater contamination by arsenic (As) is a serious issue in many countries, particularly in middle- and low-income nations. High concentrations of As in drinking water and groundwater cause serious health problems. Numerous technologies, such as ion exchange, oxidation, coagulation–flocculation, phytoremediation, membrane filtration, and [...] Read more.
Groundwater contamination by arsenic (As) is a serious issue in many countries, particularly in middle- and low-income nations. High concentrations of As in drinking water and groundwater cause serious health problems. Numerous technologies, such as ion exchange, oxidation, coagulation–flocculation, phytoremediation, membrane filtration, and adsorption, have been applied to remove As from the water environment. Among these technologies, adsorption is the preferred method in low- and middle-income countries due to its affordability, high efficiency, and ease of design, operation, and maintenance. Along with this technology, a variety of materials have been developed and investigated for their ability to remove As from water environments, though iron-based adsorbents have been reported to be the most effective. Thus, the aim of this paper is to briefly review the sources of As and the prevalence of As species in water bodies, as well as the currently available technologies for As removal. A detailed analysis of recent studies on iron-based adsorbents used to remove As from aqueous solutions in both laboratory conditions and field conditions is presented. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Arsenic Pollution: Sources, Modes of Enrichment, Mechanisms of Release, and Mitigation Strategies)
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