Filter and sorbent for removal of contaminants from a fluid

1. A first sorbent for removing at least one contaminant from a fluid, the first sorbent comprising first activated carbon modified to contain a plurality of first hydrated metal oxide particles substantially dispersed therein, the modified first activated carbon with a significantly greater capacity for arsenic and other inorganic metals and oxyanions compared to a second sorbent comprising first activated carbon modified by a direct precipitation method to contain a plurality of the hydrated metal oxide particles.

2. The first sorbent of claim 1 wherein the modified first activated carbon is impregnated with the hydrated metal oxide.

3. The first sorbent of claim 1 wherein the metal of the first hydrated metal oxide is selected from at least one of Cu, Mn, V, Sn, Pt, Fe, Co, Ce, La, Zr, Ti, or Ru.

4. A filter to reduce a level of at least one contaminant in drinking water, the filter comprising a first sorbent comprising first activated carbon modified to contain particles of a first hydrated metal oxide substantially dispersed therein with a significantly greater capacity for arsenic and other inorganic metals and oxyanions compared to a second sorbent comprising activated carbon modified by a direct precipitation method to contain a plurality of hydrated metal oxide particles, and a containment device containing the first sorbent.

5. The filter of claim 4 wherein the first sorbent is incorporated in at least one of a filter mat, a spiral wound medium, a woven medium, or a non-woven medium.

6. The filter of claim 4 associated with or integral with a drinking water container.

7. The filter of claim 4 associated with a household water purification system.

8. The filter of claim 4 associated with at least one water faucet.

9. The filter of claim 4 associated with a refrigerator water dispenser, a freezer ice dispenser, or combinations thereof.

10. A method for synthesizing a first sorbent comprising

contacting activated carbon with an oxidant under conditions to form an oxidant-bound carbon sorbent,

removing unbound oxidant from the oxidant-bound carbon sorbent, and

contacting the oxidant-bound carbon sorbent with a metal salt solution under conditions to impregnate metal oxide in the activated carbon to result in a metal oxide-impregnated carbon sorbent with significantly greater capacity for arsenic and other inorganic metals and oxyanions compared to a second sorbent comprising activated carbon modified by a direct precipitation method to contain a plurality of hydrated metal oxide particles.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising washing, neutralizing, and drying the carbon-impregnated metal oxide sorbent.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein the oxidant is an anionic oxidant selected from at least one of persulfate, permanganate, hypochlorite, nitrate, nitrite, FeO 4 2− , perchlorate, bromate, iodate, or chlorite.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein the oxidant is a cationic oxidant.

14. The method of claim 10 where a weakly basic solution is used to neutralize the first sorbent.