Removal of arsenic from water solutions by naturally occurring limoniteRemoval of arsenic from water solutions by naturally occurring limonite Πλήρης Δημοσίευση σε Συνέδριο Conference Full Paper 2015-10-312004enArsenic is a pathogenic element and its presence in drinking water is undesirable. It is well known that arsenic reacts with iron to form insoluble substances and it is absorbed from water by iron compounds. This work examines the possibility to remove arsenic from water solutions by naturally occurring limonite. Limonite samples were collected from an old iron ore mining area in the district of Hania in the island of Crete and one of them was selected for the experimental work. Two series of absorption tests were performed in order to develop an efficient procedure of arsenic removal from artificial water solutions of different concentrations. In the first series of tests a constant amount of limonite is used in each case to remove arsenic from water solutions of the same volume that differ in the initial concentration of arsenic. For high initial concentrations of arsenic up to 2000 ppb the remaining arsenic is still high and the efficiency of the process is low. This problem is overcome in the second series of tests where the solid absorbent is added in stages and the overall efficiency of the process is increased. The remaining arsenic in the final water solution is lower and the total time of reaction is shorter than before. These preliminary results have provided the background for a new series of research work that goes on and aims to develop a low cost commercial process, easy to handle, with acceptable quality of drinking water and high efficiency of absorbent. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/583-587 Advances in Mineral Resources Management and Environmental Geotechnology Manoutsoglou Emmanouil Μανουτσογλου Εμμανουηλ Pantelaki Olga Παντελακη Ολγα Stamboliadis ,E.Th. Contamination of drinking water drinking water contamination contamination of drinking water