Toxic organic contaminants in potable water and their mitigation strategies using indigenously prepared, matrix modified alumina

Various organic pollutants are present in potable water such as phenols, organic dyes, pesticides and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Some of these chemicals are carcinogenic, mutagenic, teratogenic and endocrine disrupting compounds and affect human health and other living organisms in the environment. Therefore, their precise characterization and mitigation strategies in environmental matrices are of vital significance. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are listed as priority pollutants by US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), World Health Organization (WHO) and European Union. These PAHs are inducted into the environment by incomplete combustion processes of fossil fuels, incineration of refuse, vehicle traffic, and industrial activities. Air, water and soil are easily contaminated by these carcinogens. Various options are applicable for the removal of these carcinogens but in this study the matrix modified alumina with Fe/sub 2/O/sub 3/ has been explored for the immobilization of PAHs from potable water. The matrix modified alumina has been indigenously prepared, thermally treated up to 1000 deg. C and characterized using XRD, SEM and EDXA techniques. The prepared adsorbent has successfully immobilized highly toxic and carcinogenic benzo (a) pyrene along with naphthalene, acenaphthylene and phenanthrene. A great advantage of the adsorbent is that it can be used in adsorption columns for the removal of carcinogenic organic compounds from potable water at trace levels. (author)