SPECIATION OF IRON IN GROUNDWATER FROM AREAS OF HUMIC WATERS BY AN ION-EXCHANGE METHOD
The removal efficiency of iron from ground-water for drinking water production is related to iron physico-chemical forms (species). An ion-exchange method was suggested for iron speciation analysis in groundwater. This method is based on the sorption of negatively charged iron species, mainly organically bound iron, on to DEAE cellulose anion-exchange resin, and positively charged species, mainly hydrated iron ions, on to Amberlite IRA 120 cation-exchange resin. The method was designed for taking water directly into a sampler filled with the respective resin, thereby largely preserving the natural conditions of the aquifer. The analytical results obtained were compared with simulation results using the WinHumicV computer speciation model. The results showed that this method could be used equally efficient for speciation of iron in groundwater with high (pear land and bog drained) and moderate (artificially recharged) concentrations of humic substances.