CH 450 PRESENTATIONS
TITLE: HEAVY METALS- ARSENIC
PRESENTED BY:
FAITH BANDA
ANITA CHIPOYA
ISAAC CHIKWANDA
JAMES JILENDULA
DATE: 8th MAY, 2023. LECTURER: Dr. K KALEBAILA
INTRODUCTION • Interestingly, arsenic, a metalloid is the 20th
most abundant element in the earth’s crust
and not only that but it is also a normal
component of the human body.
ARSENIC • It is a component of more than 245 minerals
of which are mostly sulphide ores along with
copper, nickel, lead, cobalt, or other metals.
• Due to the weathering of rocks, arsenic
sulphides are converted into arsenic trioxides
which enters the arsenic cycle as dust or by
dissolution in rains, rivers or ground water.
• Not only that the arsenic trioxide can also
enter the food chain and cause wide spread
distribution throughout the plant and animal
kingdoms.
SOURCES OF ARSENIC • Arsenic can naturally be found in the
earth’s crust and it can be realised
into the environment due to human
activities. Sources of arsenic includes
the following.
1. Minerals (arsenopyrite, realgar,
orpiment and enargite) in soils,
rocks and sediment.
2. Ground water(via leaching from
rocks and soils)
3. Pesticides (lead arsenate which has
been banned from use now.)
SOURCES OF ARSENIC cont‘d
4. Wood preservatives(chromated copper arsenate CCA to protect
wood from decay and insects)
5. Mining and industrial activities(released into the environment via
mining and industrial activities.
6. Food and drinks(particularly rice and some sea food due to natural
occurrence or contamination from the environment)
EXTRACTION OF ARSENIC
• Arsenic is extracted from minerals containing high levels of arsenic such
as arsenopyrite (FeAsS) OR realgar (As4S4).
• The processes vary depending on the source of the mineral. The following
are common methods for extracting arsenic.
1. Roasting (heating the mineral in the presence of oxygen).arsenic
sulphide is converted into arsenic oxide which can further be processed
to extract arsenic.
2. Smelting (heating the mineral to a high temperature in the presence of a
reducing agent such as carbon or coke.
USES
• wood preservation
arsenic is used to preserve wood and protect it from decaying and insect
damage.
• medicinal purposes
arsenic compounds have been is used to treat various illnesses such as
cancer,syphilis and skin conditions.
• Glass manufacturing
arsenic is used as a clarifying agent in glass manufacturing to remove of
impurities.
USES cont‘d
• Semi-conductors
It is used as a dopant in the production of semi-conductors to control the
electrical properties of the material.
• Metal alloys
arsenic is used in small amounts in some metal alloys to improve its strength
and corrosion resistance.
• Pigments
arsenic is used as pigments in paints and dyes
TOXICITY – TO THE ENVIRONMENT
• Arsenic can contaminate soil and water, in areas where mining or
industrial activities take place. This can lead to the pollution of rivers and
other bodies of water, which can harm aquatic organisms and their
ecosystems.
• Arsenic can also accumulate in plants, particularly those that are irrigated
with arsenic-contaminated water. This can make the plants toxic to
animals that eat them, and can also contaminate the food chain.
• Arsenic can contribute to air pollution, particularly in areas where coal is
burned for energy. Arsenic is released into the air during coal
combustion, and can be harmful to human health when it is breathed in.
TOXICITY -TO HUMANS
• Arsenic exposure can cause skin lesions, cancers of the skin, bladder, and
lung, and cardiovascular disease. Long-term exposure to arsenic has also
been linked to developmental and reproductive problems.
• The toxicity of arsenic to humans can depend on the form of arsenic that is
present.
• Inorganic arsenic is generally considered more toxic than organic arsenic,
and long-term exposure to high levels of inorganic arsenic can be
particularly harmful.
REMEDIATION
This is the process of cleaning up, removing, or treating pollutants or
contaminants from a polluted site or environment, in order to reduce or
eliminate the risks they pose to human health or the environment
Remediation of Arsenic-contaminated sites involves various methods:
1. Chemical treatment
which involves the addition of chemicals to the contaminated soil or water to
convert the Arsenic into a less toxic form
Coagulation/flocculation- aluminium sulfate to bind aresenic
Precipitation- calcium hydroxide to react with arsenic and form precipitates
Adsorption- activated alumina to attract and bind arsenic ions
Oxidation/reduction- chlorine to oxidise arsenic (III) to (V)
REMEDIATION cont‘d
2. Phytoremediation
method of using plants to remove arsenic from contaminated soil and water,
plants such as Sunflowers, Indian mustard, Ferns, Vertiver grass and Water
hyacinth can absorb arsenic an absorb and store it in its leaves and stems.
3. Bioremediation
The use of microorganisms to break down the Arsenic
reduce arsenic(V) to arsenic(III)
oxidize arsenic(III) to arsenic(V)
methylate inorganic arsenic to produce less toxic and less soluble organic
compounds, such as monomethylarsonic acid (MMA) and
dimethylarsinic acid (DMA)
CONCLUSION
Arsenic is a highly toxic element
Its safe use and proper disposal are crucial to protect human health and the
environment
Further research is needed to better understand the sources, transport, and
fate of arsenic in the environment and to develop more effective
remediation strategies.
REFERENCES
1. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. (2021). Arsenic. Retrieved from
[Link]
2. United States Environmental Protection Agency. (2021). Arsenic. Retrieved from
[Link]
3. World Health Organization. (2018). Arsenic. Retrieved from
[Link]
THANKS FOR LISTENING
