The presence of arsenic in ground and surface water has prompted considerable research efforts? toward understanding the health impact of arsenic ingestion, its environmental fate and transport, and? its removal from potable water. Arsenic is considered a human carcinogen and drinking arseniccontaminated? water is linked to increased risk of diabetes, cardiovascular problems, hormonal? disruption, cancer, DMA damage, and vascular diseases. Arsenic is often associated with metal? oxides and humic materials in drinking water supplies. The working hypothesis for this research? proposal is that the interactions, bonding and reactivity of arsenic on metal oxides play key roles in the? bioavailability, toxicity, and effective remediation of arsenic. A fundamental knowledge of arsenic? redox kinetics and adsorption properties is critical for understanding the health risks associated with? the bioavailability of arsenic, the fate and transport of arsenic in the environment and for the? optimization of treatment processes for the removal of arsenic species from drinking water.? The primary goal of the proposed study is to develop a fundamental understanding of the adsorption? and oxidation of toxic arsenic on metal oxide surfaces using microscopic imaging, spectroscopy, and? molecular manipulation techniques. Titanium and tin oxides will be used as the model metal oxides? because of their potential applicability for the remediation of arsenic. The role of the metal oxide? surface, and the kinetic and mechanistic parameters of titanium dioxide photocatalytic and tin oxide? electrochemical remediation (oxidation and adsorption) of arsenic species will be established. The? parameters established from the proposed studies are critical to the development of effective? technologies for the treatment of arsenic contaminated waters. The long-term goal of the proposed? research is to establish the mechanisms that govern the adsorption, reactions and release of arsenic? from metal oxide surfaces. We expect the data generated from these studies can be input into? environmental risk models that evaluate the probability of the health effects of ingestion of arsenic? contaminated water by animals and humans.
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