CE 3.1 Project: Design and Implementation of Arsenic Detector in Water

This project report details the design of an arsenic detector in water, undertaken as a chemical engineering project. The project aimed to detect arsenic in drinking water, a significant health hazard. The report outlines the project background, objectives, and the student's role, which included designing the arsenic detector and documenting the project. It discusses the engineering knowledge applied, particularly hydraulics and distillation, and the theory behind arsenic detection, including the toxicity of arsenic and its various forms in the environment. The project utilized multiple detection methods, including colorimetric test kits, portable X-ray fluorescence, and Anodic Stripping Voltammetry (ASV). The report also addresses challenges faced, such as difficulties with X-ray fluorescence, and the solutions implemented. The student utilized their chemical engineering skills and knowledge to overcome the challenges. The project emphasizes the importance of teamwork and professional guidance in completing the project successfully. Finally, the project involved planning for creative and innovative work, with weekly meetings and workshops to enhance understanding and address project issues effectively.

CE 3.1 Project Information
Name of the project: Design of Arsenic Detector in Water
Location of the project: Please fill
Project Duration: Please fill
Organization: Please fill
Role and Designation during the time: Team Member of the project
CE 3.2 Project Background
CE 3.2.1 Characteristics of the project
This project of Design of Arsenic Detector in Water was the second mini project of
my engineering career. Arsenic is one of the most dangerous metals that are extremely life
threatening if found in water. It is considered as one of the major reasons for causing cancer
in human beings. Hence, I executed this project for proper detection of the amount of arsenic
in drinking water. These arsenic detectors can easily the presence of arsenic within the water
and thus danger can be avoided easily and promptly.
CE 3.2.2 Objectives developed for the project
The project of Design of Arsenic Detector in Water comprises of two significant
objectives. These objectives are as follows:
 To design an arsenic detector in water.
 To help the society in detecting arsenic in water.

CE 3.2.3 My area of work
During this project of Design of Arsenic Detector in Water, I was well experienced
since I had already worked in two other projects and I utilized my previous experience. My
major area of work was to make the design of the arsenic detector. Being a chemical
engineer, I applied my engineering skills and knowledge and successful in solving the
reaction that can easily detect the amount of arsenic present within the water. My next area of
work was to document the project report properly.
CE 3.2.4 Project Group
Figure 1: People involved in the project
CE 3.2.5 My responsibilities throughout the project
I was involved in this particular project during the entire period and thus was
successful in executing all the duties or responsibilities that were given to me. My first
responsibility in the project was to make the design of the arsenic detector. I faced few
difficulties in the starting of the project; however, at the end I was successful in mitigating all
of them. My next important responsibility in this particular project was to document the

project report perfectly and without any flaws. I even arranged for weekly meetings, so that
we can check for the project follow ups. This helped us in mitigating the project issues
effectively and the project was completed on time.
CE 3.3 Distinctive Activity
CE 3.3.1 Engineering knowledge and skills applied in the project
I have used my chemical engineering skills and knowledge for the success of the
project. The first and foremost skill that I have applied here is the technical knowledge of
hydraulics. I had the idea about the pump or compressor operation as well as the piping work
for getting fluids from any one point to another. Moreover, I even had the idea of distillation.
It is the most important piece of equipment, which is required for all settings. Since, this
project was related to the detection of arsenic of water, the knowledge of distillation and
hydraulics were extremely vital here.
CE 3.3.3 Comprehending the Theory of Project
The proper combination of the widespread occurrence and high toxicity had
eventually made a pressing requirement for the most efficient measurement and monitoring
of arsenic in groundwater and soil. Arsenic is eventually put as the second priority after lead
since the major inorganic impurity within the most important NPL or National Priority List. It
is also one of the most toxic metals that are eventually regulated as per the RCRA. Thus, the
requirement do exist for the monitoring of arsenic at the RCRA landfills, superfund sites, and
several facilities that are handling wastes containing arsenic, as well as sites where the metal
arsenic could be found at the fixed toxic level within groundwater.
I have noted that the major species of the metal arsenic that are found within
environment are the oxyacids of arsenic (III) as well as arsenic (V). Within various

significant environments, this arsenic (V) could be frequently deprotonated as the arsenic (V)
or the arsenate anion. The distinct arsenate anions, or arsenate as well as with the entire
neutral arsenite comprises of the most important targets for the assays of field analytics. Even
though the compounds of arsenic (V) are taken into consideration at the low risks, bacteria
and several other environmental actions could easily convert them again into the more toxic
and more mobile form of arsenic.
Soil and groundwater even comprise of organoarsenic species. These are trimethyl
arsine, trimethylarsine oxide, dimethylarsenic acid and monomethylarsenic acid. In the
general compounds of organoarsenic these are lesser toxic than the corresponding oxyacids.
In the freshwater lake, the methylated arsenic could subsequently make up to almost 60% of
the arsenic. The present MCL or maximum contaminant level for each and every arsenic
form within groundwater is 50 μg/L (50 ppb). The waste that is contaminated with arsenic is
limited under the RCRA as the most hazardous waste and hence should be treated for
meeting the limits that are determined by the agreed extraction protocol, which is the TCLP
or toxicity characteristic leaching procedure. The soil that is contaminated with arsenic is
always treated as the most hazardous waste with similar limitations on the disposal and
treatment.
In my project, I have utilized various methods in detecting the level of arsenic within
drinking water. Amongst them, the very first method is the colorimetric test kit. The field kits
had been utilized extensively for testing the arsenic within groundwater, and thus in most of
the cases, this is the one and only applied assay. The present baseline methodology includes
the diversity of several technologies, which are known as all the specific variations of the
specific method of Gutzeit. I have applied this method in the project in almost every water
sample, even though these might have been applied for the purpose of testing the soil and

solid waste. Moreover, utilization either in an acid extraction or the acidic oxidation digestion
of this water sample was also done by me.
The method of Gutzeit and all of its variants majorly included treatment of the water
sample with the help of a reducing agent, which transformed compounds of arsenic that were
present within the water to arsenic trihydride or arsine gas. This subsequently separated
arsenic from water sample. The particular reaction with paper produced a highly coloured
compound. This method of test was inexpensive however we managed to arrange for our
funds. Moreover, the project was to be done under the guidance of a professional. The
compounds like sulphur, tellurium and selenium had the potential in interfering with the
assay. Various organoarsenic species like dimethylarsinate and monomethylarsonate could
not directly detect with the help of this assay. Even though all these compounds were
transformed into (CH3)2AsH and CH3AsH2 within the presence of several reducing agents like
the sodium borohydride, it was not at all clear that if the compounds could react with the
mercuric bromide within the testing strip.
The second method that I have applied in my project was portable X-ray
Fluorescence. Environmental samples were removed with high energy photons. For the
detection of arsenic, a specific source of sealed radioisotope was utilized. When this sample
was removed, the particular sample atom might even absorb photon and dislodging an
electron. In the entire procedure, the effect of photoelectric and the resulting vacancy were
filled by the electron, cascading from outer shells of electron. The electrons rearrangement
resulted in the X-rays emission feature of every atom that is termed as XRF or x-ray
fluorescence.
The next method is ASV or Anodic Stripping Voltammetry. The electrochemical
assays to detect arsenic had depicted accuracy. All of these methods had worked best for the

samples of liquid, like groundwater. The solid samples should had been extracted or digested
even before testing. This EPA had already approved the analytical method of ASV that
comprise of the capability to measure from the range of 0.1 to 300 μg/L arsenic.
We tested all the three above mentioned methods within our project and were finally
successful in detecting arsenic in the drinking water.
CE 3.3.4 Identified issues and their solutions
3.3.4.1 Issues
The most significant problem that we faced within this project was during testing the
X-ray Fluorescence. We were using this method for the first time and hence neither of us had
the idea of the method and thus the project was getting delayed.
3.3.4.2 Solutions
I gave relevant suggestions to my team members for resolving the above-mentioned
problem. I asked my project supervisor in helping us in this matter. Since, I was a quick
learner; I understood the method quickly and was successful in executing the project
successfully.
CE 3.3.5 Plan to produce creative and innovative work
We therefore made an important plan for this particular project. Our plan was very
simple. We performed as a group and thus were successful in fulfilling the responsibilities
that were given to us. Moreover, we attended workshops for understanding our work with
betterment.