Determination of the Size Distribution of Dissolved Organics in Effluents
Abstract The importance of removing the small amounts of residual organics is increasing as the sources of clean surface water decrease. Knowledge of the nature of these soluble residual organics will be needed in order to assess the type of treatment required for their removal. Residual organics in three different biological treatment plants were analyzed and compared. An attempt was made to characterize these organics by a molecular size distribution on a Sephadex column monitored by differential ultraviolet and refractive index detectors. The organic carbon and chemical oxygen demand of the fractions collected from the column was also determined. An investigation of some of the problems inherent in the monitoring systems was conducted.