Majumder and six co-authors, reported in 2013 that solar oxidation and removal of arsenic (SORAS) is a low-cost non-hazardous technique for the removal
of arsenic (As) from groundwater. In this study, the authors' tested the efficiency of natural citric acid sources extracted from tomato, lemon and lime to promote SORAS for As removal at the household level. The experiment was conducted in the laboratory using both synthetic solutions and natural groundwater samples collected from As-polluted areas in West Bengal.
The role of As/Fe molar ratios and citrate doses on As removal efficiency were checked in synthetic samples. The results demonstrate that tomato juice (as citric acid) was more efficient to remove As from both synthetic (percentage of removal: 78–98%) and natural groundwater (90–97%) samples compared to lemon (61–83% and 79–85%, respectively) and lime (39–69% and 63–70%, respectively) juices. The As/Fe molar ratio and the citrate dose showed an ‘optimized central tendency’ on As removal. Anti-oxidants, e.g. ‘hydroxycinnamates’, found in tomato, were shown to have a higher capacity to catalyze SORAS photochemical reactions compared to ‘flavanones’ found in lemon or lime. The application of this method has several advantages, such as eco- and user- friendliness and affordability at the household level compared to other low-cost techniques.
The authors reported for the first time that the citrate source from tomato can effectively remove As from groundwater compared to lemon and lime. The removal efficiency was mainly controlled by the varying As/Fe molar ratios and citrate doses, which showed an ‘optimized central tendency’. The analogous
citrate removal from groundwater indicates possible interference of anti-oxidants during Fe(III)-citrate photochemical cycle. Tomato, containing hydroxycinnamate as major anti-oxidants, would probably form Fe(III)–hydroxycinnamate complexes and
thus favored the SORAS photochemical cycle.
The market survey highlights tomato as the most cost-effective, eco-friendly, affordable, available and efficient citrate source compared to lemon and lime for the SORAS treatment at the household level. The allowance of the household filtration of the treated water makes this method more convenient for the rural villagers. The cultivation of tomato in rural backyards will additionally gain financial benefit to the rural household’s in addition to treat As contaminated groundwater.
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