Removal of Arsenic from Drinking Water using Hybrid Ion Exchangers or HIX : A Prudent approach for Rural Water Utilities Presentedby VEETech, P.C. 942 Millbrook Avenue, STE # 6 Aiken, SC

Effect of Arsenic in Drinking Water Sources Natural Geochemical contamination through soil leaching Natural Geochemical contamination through soil leaching Inorganic arsenic, which occurs as As(III) or As(V) in drinking water, presents great threat to public health Inorganic arsenic, which occurs as As(III) or As(V) in drinking water, presents great threat to public health Exposure can cause Thickening and decoloration of skin Thickening and decoloration of skin Nausea and Diarrhea Nausea and Diarrhea Decreased production of blood vessels Decreased production of blood vessels Skin cancer and tumors of the bladder, kidney, liver and lung Skin cancer and tumors of the bladder, kidney, liver and lung

Illustration of a typical three-step procedure to disperse both crystalline and amorphous HFO nanoparticles inside the spherical polymer beads to form Hybrid Ion Exchangers or HIX

Desirable Attributes of Fixed Bed Sorbents (e.g., HIX) for Arsenic Removal Excellent Mechanical Strength and Attrition Resistance Excellent Mechanical Strength and Attrition Resistance Selective towards both As(III) and As(V) Selective towards both As(III) and As(V) Does not require pre or post treatment (e.g., pH) Does not require pre or post treatment (e.g., pH)

Desirable Attributes (contd…) Does not alter the electrolytic quality of treated water Does not alter the electrolytic quality of treated water Does not generate fines or pressure drops during long term column operation Does not generate fines or pressure drops during long term column operation Efficiency is not affected by the presence of high concentrations of silica, phosphate, or sulfate in water Efficiency is not affected by the presence of high concentrations of silica, phosphate, or sulfate in water Can treat up to 40,000 bed volumes (BV) of water/cycle Can treat up to 40,000 bed volumes (BV) of water/cycle Can be regenerated up to 20 to 30 cycles of operation Can be regenerated up to 20 to 30 cycles of operation Can remove multiple contaminants such as Ra, U, and perchlorate along with Arsenic Can remove multiple contaminants such as Ra, U, and perchlorate along with Arsenic

Typical Influent / Effluent TDS vs. Bed Volume

Typical Influent / Effluent pH vs. Bed Volume

Typical Bench Scale Study: Arsenic(III) Effluent History for a column run

Typical Bench Scale Study: Comparison of Arsenic and Silica Breakthrough

Typical Pilot Scale Study: Arsenic Effluent History at City of Rosharon, TX Inlet As: 27ug/l Run length: 14 days Flow rate: 1.2 gpm Column Dia: 3” Column Ht: 2’ Maximum contaminant level (MCL)

Typical Pilot Scale Study: Arsenic Effluent History at City of Andrews, TX Arsenic ug/l Bed Volumes Inlet As: 25ug/l Run length: 35 days Flow rate: 0.2 gpm Column Dia: 3” Column Ht: 2’ Maximum contaminant level (MCL)

Typical Fixed Bed Sorbent (HIX) Based Arsenic Removal System for Rural Water Utilities

AVAILABLE TECHNOLOGIES/TREATMENT METHODS The Technologies/Sorbents that are available in the marketplace to remove arsenic from drinking water are: 1. Granular Ferric Oxide (GFH) 2. E33 Granular Ferric Oxide (GFO) 3. G2 Ferric Oxide Treated Diatomite 4. Apyron Aqua-Bind SP60 Most of the above sorbents lack Mechanical Strength and require pre/post treatment Most of the above media except HIX and G2 are not Regenerable. HIX clearly stands out particularly for simultaneous removal of Arsenic and other co- contaminants (U and Ra).

Typical Installed Cost for Fixed Bed Systems Population Served Service Flow Rate Installed Cost gpm $ 20 K gpm $ 38 K gpm $ 60 K 1, gpm $ 85 K 3, gpm $ 200 K 5, gpm $ 300 K 10, gpm $ 525 K

Typical Operating Cost for HIX Fixed Bed Systems Range of Inlet Arsenic Concentration Cost/1000 gal of treated water 15 to 30 ppb 30 to 50 cents 31 to 60 ppb 50 to 75 cents 61 to 100 ppb 75 cents to $1.10 Note: For inlet water containing Arsenic and other co- contaminants like Radium or Uranium, the operating cost for treatment is expected to increase in the range of 40% to 60%