Sustainable Technologies for Removal of Arsenic From Water and Wastewater: A Comprehensive Review Publisher



Ghosh S^{1, 2} ; Igwegbe CA^{3, 4} ; Malloum A^{5, 6} ; Elmakki MAE^{6, 7} ; Onyeaka H⁸ ; Fahmy AH⁹ ; Aquatar MO¹⁰ ; Ahmadi S¹¹ ; Alameri BM¹² ; Ghosh S^{1, 2} ; Khan NA¹⁵ ; Singh L¹⁴ ; Mubarak NM^{16, 17, 18} ; Dehghani MH^{19, 20} Show Affiliations
Source: Journal of Molecular Liquids Published:2025

Abstract

Arsenic contamination in water poses serious environmental and health risks, requiring effective remediation methods. Adsorption has emerged as a highly promising approach due to its simplicity, adaptability, and cost-effectiveness. This review evaluates adsorption isotherms and kinetic models, notably Langmuir, Freundlich and the pseudo-second-order, which accurately described arsenic adsorption mechanisms. Thermodynamic analysis confirms adsorption feasibility, with negative Gibbs free energy values confirming spontaneity and exothermic enthalpy favoring lower temperatures. Key operational factors, including ionic strength, initial concentration, temperature, contact time, adsorbent dosage, and pH, were explored. The review also discussed a wide range of adsorbents tested at the molecular level, such as Fe2O3, Na2O, CaO, Al2O3, MgO, SiO2, modified γ-Al2O3, and TiO2, highlighting both explicit and implicit solvation models (PCM and COSMO) to simulate environmental effects. However, most studies omit temperature and entropy contributions to adsorption energy, which are critical for realistic modeling. Advanced materials, including nano-iron oxides, functionalized composite nanofibers, chitosan composites, and metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), exhibit high adsorption capacities, such as a qmax of 249 mg/g for As(V) with functionalized composite nanofibers. Alternative technologies including coagulation, membrane filtration, ion exchange, electrochemical methods, and bioremediation were also evaluated for their complementary roles in arsenic remediation, especially where adsorption alone is inadequate. Molecular simulations and electronic structure calculations offer atomic-level insights, informing future adsorbent design. The adsorption–desorption cycles highlight the need for regenerable adsorbents for sustainable, cost-effective water treatment. Developing multifunctional adsorbents and integrated treatment approaches offer practical, adaptable solutions for global arsenic mitigation across diverse environments and economies. © 2025 Elsevier B.V.