Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Application of metallurgical slag to treat geothermal wastewater with high concentrations of arsenic and boron

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The reuse of geothermal wastewater for irrigation is an attractive alternative for supplying water demand in agriculture, due to the high volumes generated in geothermal plants. This application is limited by the presence of toxic semimetals such as arsenic and boron, which generally require high-cost commercial adsorbents for removal. This work studies the removal mechanism and process optimization of arsenic and boron, present in high concentrations in synthetic solutions and in geothermal wastewater, using metallurgical slags. The effect of pH, initial concentration of arsenic and boron and slag dose were investigated using a 33 factorial experimental design and response surface method to optimize the operating conditions of the removal of pollutants. Scanning electron microscope analysis showed that the removal mechanism consisted in a dissolution–precipitation reaction rather than adsorption. The effluent produced from wastewater at the optimal operating conditions in a two-step process meets the criteria proposed for both metalloids by the US Environmental Protection Agency for water used for irrigation.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Asta MP, Cama J, Martínez M, Giménez J (2009) Arsenic removal by goethite and jarosite in acidic conditions and its environmental implications. J Hazard Mater 171:956–972

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ayers RS, Westcot DW (1994) Water quality for agricultures. Food and Agriculture Organization, Rome

    Google Scholar 

  • Bothe JJV, Brown PW (1999) The stabilities of calcium arsenates at 23° ± 1°C. J Hazard Mater B69:197–207

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cengeloglu Y, Tor A, Arslan G, Ersoz M, Gezgin S (2007) Removal of boron from aqueous solutions by using neutralized red mud. J Hazard Mater 21:415–422

    Google Scholar 

  • Chillón AMF, Valero BL, Prats RD, Varó GP (2011) Approximate cost of the elimination of boron in desalinated water by reverse osmosis and ion exchange resins. Desalination 273:421–427

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chimenos JM, Fernández AI, Villalba G, Segarra M, Urruticoechea A, Artaza B, Espiell F (2003) Removal of ammonium and phosphates from wastewater resulting from the process of cochineal extraction using MgO-containing by-product. Water Res 37:1601–1607

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Finster M, Clark C, Schroeder J, Martino L (2015) Geothermal produced fluids: characteristics, treatment technologies, and management options. Renew Sustain Energy Rev 50:952–966

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fuente GSM, Muñoz CE (2009) Boron removal by means of adsorption processes with magnesium oxide-modelization and mechanism. Desalination 249:626–634

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Garg N, Singla P (2011) Arsenic toxicity in crop plants: physiological effects and tolerance mechanisms. Environ Chem Lett 9:303–321

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Goldstein J, Newbury DE, Echlin P, Joy DC, Romig AD Jr, Lyman CE, Fiori C, Lifshin E (2012) Scanning electron microscopy and X-ray microanalysis: a text for biologists, materials scientists, and geologists. Springer, London

    Google Scholar 

  • González-Partida E, Carrillo-Chávez A, Levresse G, Tello-Hinojosa E, Venegas-Salgado S, Ramírez-Silva G, Pal-Verma M, Tritlla J, Camprubi A (2005) Hydro-geochemical and isotopic fluid evolution of the Los Azufres geothermal field, Central México. Appl Geochem 20:23–39

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Guan XH, Ma J, Dong HR, Jiang L (2009) Removal of arsenic from water: effect of calcium ions on As(III) removal in the KMnO4–Fe(II) process. Water Res 43:5119–5128

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Güler E, Kaya C, Kabay N, Arda M (2015) Boron removal from seawater: state-of-the-art review. Desalination 356:85–93

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gupta VK, Suhas S (2009) Application of low-cost adsorbents for dye removal: a review. J Environ Manage 90:2313–2342

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hiriart G, Gutiérrez-Negrín LCA (2003) Main aspects of geothermal energy in Mexico. Geothermics 32:296–389

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ilahi SS, Ali CS (2017) Iron oxide and its modified forms as an adsorbent for arsenic removal: A comprehensive recent advancement. Process Saf Environ Prot 111:592–626

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kabay N, Köseoglu P, Yapici D, Yüksel Ü, Yüksel M (2013) Coupling ion exchange with ultrafiltration for boron removal from geothermal water-investigation of process parameters and recycle tests. Desalination 316:17–22

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kalel AN, Rahin MYA, Krishna LS, Abdul MZ, Salmiati S (2017) High concentration arsenic removal from aqueous solution using nano-iron enrich material (NIIEM) super adsorbent. Chem Eng J 317:343–355

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kan TA, Fu G, Tomson MB (2005) Adsorption and precipitation of an aminoalkylphosphonate onto calcite. J Colloid Interface Sci 281:275–284

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kashiwakura S, Kubo H, Kumagai Y, Hiroshi K, Kazuyo MY, Nakajima K, Nagasaka T (2009) Removal of boron from coal fly ash by washing with HCl solution. Fuel 88(7):1245–1250

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kourounis S, Tsivilis S, Tsakiridis PE, Papadimitriou GD, Tsibouki Z (2007) Properties and hydration of blended cements with steelmaking slag. Cem Concr Res 37:815–822

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lee JM, Kim JH, Chang YY, Chang YS (2009) Steel dust catalysis for Fenton-like of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins. J Hazard Mater 163:222–230

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li Y, Wang J, Luan Z, Liang Z (2010) Arsenic removal from aqueous solution using ferrous based red mud sludge. J Hazard Mater 177:131–137

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liu G, Dong X, Liu L, Wu L, Peng S, Jiang C (2014) Boron deficiency is correlated with changes in cell wall structure that lead to growth defects in the leaves of navel orange plants. Sci Hortic 176:54–62

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mamindy-Pajany Y, Hurel C, Marmier N, Roméo M (2009) Arsenic adsorption onto hematite and goethite. C R Chimie 12(876):881

    Google Scholar 

  • Mercado-Borrayo BM, Schouwenaars R, González-Chávez JL, Ramírez-Zamora RM (2013) Multi-analytical assessment of iron and steel slag characteristics to estimate the removal of metalloids from contaminated water. J Environ Sci Health A Tox Hazard Subst Environ Eng 48:887–895

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mercado-Borrayo BM, Schouwenaars R, Litter MI, Montoya-Bautista CV, Ramírez Zamora RM (2014) Chapter 5: Metallurgical slags as an efficient and economical adsorbent of arsenic. Water reclamation and sustainability. Elsevier, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Mercado-Borrayo BM, González-Chávez JL, Ramírez-Zamora RM, Schouwenaars R (2018a) Valorization of metallurgical slag for the treatment of water pollution: an emerging technology for resource conservation and re-utilization. J Sustain Metall 4:50–67

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mercado-Borrayo BM, Contreras R, Sánchez A, Font X, Schouwenaars R, Ramírez-Zamora RM (2018b) Optimisation of the removal conditions for heavy metals from water: a comparison between steel furnace slag and CeO2 nanoparticles. Arab J Chem. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.arabjc.2018.01.008

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Modificación de la Norma Oficial Mexicana NOM-127-SSA1 (1994) Salud ambiental. Agua para uso y consumo humano. Límites permisibles de calidad y tratamientos a que debe someterse el agua para su potabilización. http://www.dof.gob.mx/nota_detalle.php?codigo=2063863&fecha=31/12/1969. Accessed 22 June 2018

  • Mohan D, Pittman CU (2007) Arsenic removal from water/wastewater using adsorbents: a critical review. J Hazard Mater 142:1–53

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mombelli D, Mapelli C, Barella S, Di Cecca C, Le Saout G, Garcia-Diaz E (2016) The effect of chemical composition on the leaching behaviour of electric arc furnace (EAF) carbon steel slag during a standard leaching test. J Environ Chem Eng 4:1050–1060

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Moss SA, Nagpal NP (2003) Ambient water quality guidelines for boron. Ministry of Environment, Quebec

    Google Scholar 

  • Newton AC (2016) Exploitation of diversity within crops: the key to disease tolerance? Front Plant Sci 7:665

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Norma Oficial Mexicana NOM-052-SEMARNAT (2005) Que establece las características, el procedimiento de identificación, clasificación y los listados de los residuos peligrosos. México. http://dof.gob.mx/nota_detalle.php?codigo=4912592&fecha=23/06/2006. Accessed 22 June 2018

  • Oguz E (2005) Thermodynamic and kinetic investigations of PO4 3− adsorption on blast furnace slag. J Colloid Interface Sci 281:62–67

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Petousi I, Fountoulakis MS, Saru ML, Nikolaidis N, Fletcher L, Stentiford EI, Manios T (2015) Effects of reclaimed wastewater irrigation on olive (Olea europaea L.cv. ‘Koroneiki’) trees. Agric Water Manag 160:33–40

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Piatak NM, Parsons MB, Seal R (2015) Characteristics and environmental aspects of slag: a review. Appl Geochem 57:236–266

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Polat H, Vengosh A, Pankratov I, Polat M (2004) A new methodology for removal of boron from water by coal and fly ash. Desalination 164:173–188

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rao VSS, Rajan SC (1993) Spectrophotometric determination of arsenic by molybdenum blue method in zinc-lead concentrates and related smelter products after chloroform extraction of iodide complex. Talanta 40:653–656

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Samatya S, Tuncel SA, Kabay N (2015) Boron removal from RO permeate of geothermal water by monodisperse poly(vinylbenzyl chloride-co-divinylbenzene) beads containing N-methyl-d-glucamine. Desalination 364:75–81

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Smith SE, Christophersen HM, Pope S, Smith FA (2010) Arsenic uptake and toxicity in plants: integrating mycorrhizal influences. Plant Soil 327:1–21

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Song S, López-Valdivieso A, Hernández-Campos DJ, Peng C, Monroy-Fernandez MG, Razo-Soto I (2006) Arsenic removal from high-arsenic water by enhanced coagulation with ferric ions and coarse calcite. Water Res 40:364–372

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Spielholtz GI, Toralballa GC, Willsen JJ (1974) Determination of total boron in sea water by atomic absorption spectroscopy. Microchim Acta 62:649–652

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tomaszewska B, Bodezek M (2013) Desalination of geothermal wasters using a hybrid UF-RO process. Part I: boron removal in pilot-scale tests. Desalination 319:99–106

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tuutijärvi T, Lu J, Sillanpää M, Chen G (2009) As(V) adsorption on maghemite nanoparticles. J Hazard Mater 166:415–1420

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ungureanu G, Santos S, Boaventura R, Botelho C (2015) Arsenic and antimony in water and wastewater: Overview of removal techniques with special reference to latest advances in adsorption. J Environ Manage 151:3326–3342

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • US EPA (2012) Guidelines for water reuse. Washington, DC, 643 p. http://nepis.epa.gov/Adobe/PDF/P100FS7K.pdf. Accessed 22 June 2018

  • Wang B, Guo X, Bai P (2014) Removal technology of boron dissolved in aqueous solutions: a review. Coll Surf A 444:338–344

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • World Health Organization (2011) Guidelines for drinking-water quality, 4th edn. WHO Press, Geneva

    Google Scholar 

  • Worldsteel Association (2014) Steel industry by-products. Fact Sheets, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Wu Q, You R, Clark M, Yu Y (2014) Pb(II) removal from aqueous solution by a low-cost adsorbent dry desulfurization slag. App Surf Sci 314:129–137

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhou YF, Haynes RJ (2010) Sorption of heavy metals by inorganic and organic components of solid wastes: significance to use of wastes as low-cost adsorbents and immobilizing agents. Crit Rev Environ Sci Technol 40:909–977

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

B. Mercado-Borrayo thanks Coordinación de Estudios de Posgrado, UNAM for her PhD grant. M. Solís-López acknowledges support from Dirección General de Asuntos del Personal Académico, UNAM, for her postdoctoral grant. The project was supported by grants from the same organization under projects IV100616 and IT114511 as well as funds from Instituto de Ingeniería, UNAM.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto de Ingeniería, Coordinación de Ingeniería Ambiental, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cd. Universitaria, Coyoacán, 04510, Ciudad de México, México

    B. M. Mercado-Borrayo & R. M. Ramírez-Zamora

  2. Departamento de Materiales Y Manufactura DIMEI, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Avenida Universidad 3000, Coyoacán, 04510, Ciudad de México, México

    M. Solís-López & R. Schouwenaars

Authors
  1. B. M. Mercado-Borrayo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. M. Solís-López
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. R. Schouwenaars
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. R. M. Ramírez-Zamora
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to R. M. Ramírez-Zamora.

Additional information

Editorial responsibilty: Tanmoy Karak.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Mercado-Borrayo, B.M., Solís-López, M., Schouwenaars, R. et al. Application of metallurgical slag to treat geothermal wastewater with high concentrations of arsenic and boron. Int. J. Environ. Sci. Technol. 16, 2373–2384 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-018-1952-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-018-1952-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation