As discussed earlier, because most cases of As toxicity in humans have
resulted from the consumption of As-contaminated water, there have been
intensive research efforts in developing technologies aimed at stripping As
from water. A plethora of methods suitable for the removal of As from
water at both household and community levels are currently available. These
methods are primarily based on (i) removal of solid-phase As through
coagulation, sedimentation, or filtration; (ii) removal of solution-phase As
through ion exchange, osmosis, or electrodialysis; (iii) oxidation of As(III) to
As(V) and its subsequent removal through adsorption and/or precipitation;
(iv) biosorption using microorganisms; and (v) rhizofiltration using aquatic
plants. Some of the methods that have been tested for the removal of As
from water are presented in Table XII.