Effect of anaerobic biological activity on the adsorptive capacity of granular activated carbon

A test was developed to measure the present-day adsorptive capacity of granular activated to help drinking water treatment professionals to determine when the GAC needs replacement.

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Effects of electrochemical treatment of granular activated carbon on surface acid groups and the adsorptive capacity for phenol

Water Research ◽

10.1016/s0043-1354(97)00057-2 ◽

1997 ◽

Vol 31 (9) ◽

pp. 2171-2176 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

Mihir P. Mehta ◽

Joseph R.V. Flora

Keyword(s):

Activated Carbon ◽

Granular Activated Carbon ◽

Electrochemical Treatment ◽

Adsorptive Capacity

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Granular Activated Carbon Sequencing Batch Biofilm Reactor to Treat Problematic Wastewaters

Water Science & Technology ◽

10.2166/wst.1992.0561 ◽

1992 ◽

Vol 26 (5-6) ◽

pp. 1195-1203 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

M. A. A. Jaar ◽

P. A. Wilderer

Keyword(s):

Activated Carbon ◽

Granular Activated Carbon ◽

Biofilm Reactor ◽

Adsorptive Capacity ◽

Substrate Removal ◽

Sequencing Batch Biofilm Reactor ◽

Subsequent Decrease ◽

Activated Carbon Filter ◽

Micro Organisms ◽

Carbon Filter

Experiments were conducted to study the performance of a reactor packed with granular activated carbon, and operated in a sequencing fill and draw mode. The reactor was inoculated with micro-organisms, loaded with a solution of 3-chlorobenzoate and thioglycolic acid. Oxygen was transfered to the microorganisms by means of silicon rubber tubings embedded in the activated carbon bed. Comparative studies were conducted with a continuous flow activated carbon filter and with a reactor packed with sand instead of granular activated carbon. Periodic operation of the granular activated carbon reactor provided superior results. High substrate removal efficiency was achieved as was high process stability under shock loading conditions, the latter mainly as a result of intermediate adsorption and subsequent decrease of toxic effects. After a period of 14 months of continuous operation the activated carbon had maintained about 90 per cent of its adsorptive capacity.

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Augmenting granular activated carbon with natural clay for multicomponent sorption of heavy metals from aqueous solutions

Water Science & Technology ◽

10.2166/wst.2017.395 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 76 (8) ◽

pp. 2213-2221 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Nuhu Dalhat Mu'azu ◽

Mohammed Hussain Essa ◽

Salihu Lukman

Keyword(s):

Activated Carbon ◽

Fixed Bed ◽

Granular Activated Carbon ◽

Industrial Applications ◽

Point Of Zero Charge ◽

Adsorptive Capacity ◽

Batch Adsorption ◽

Natural Clay ◽

Multicomponent Adsorption ◽

Initial Ph

Multicomponent adsorption of Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb and Zn onto date palm pits based granular activated carbon (GAC) augmented with highly active natural clay at different proportion was investigated. The effects of the initial pH and the adsorbents mixed ratio on the removal selectivity sequence of the metals evaluated. Batch adsorption experiments were undertaken at initial pH 2, 6 and 12. At initial pH 2, both the percent removal and the metals adsorptive capacity decreased with increasing GAC to clay ratio (from 0 to 1) with the percentage removal of Cd, Zn and Cr ions dropping from 68, 81, 100% to 43, 57 and 70%, respectively. At both pH 6 and 12, the percentage removals and adsorption capacities of all the heavy metal ions are higher than at pH 2. Selectivity sequences for pH 2, 6 and 12 followed the order Pb > Cr > Cu > Zn > Cd; Pb > Cr > Cu > Cd > Zn and Cd > Cr > Cu > Pb > Zn, respectively. The adsorption trends were analyzed in relation to point of zero charge and ξ-potential and the metals ions speciation at different pH. These results will help better understand the feasibility of augmenting GAC with natural clay minerals during fixed bed column test which is more beneficial for practical industrial applications.

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Treatment of Bleach Plant Effluent with the Biological Granular Activated Carbon Process

Water Science & Technology ◽

10.2166/wst.1992.0422 ◽

1992 ◽

Vol 26 (1-2) ◽

pp. 427-434 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

C. A. Jackson-Moss ◽

J. P. Maree ◽

S. C. Wotton

Keyword(s):

Activated Carbon ◽

Microbial Activity ◽

Paper Industry ◽

Granular Activated Carbon ◽

Pulp And Paper Industry ◽

Pulp And Paper ◽

Adsorptive Capacity ◽

Anaerobic Reactor

Bleach plant effluent from the pulp and paper industry was treated by means of the anaerobic biological granular activated carbon process. It was found that over 50% of the COD and colour could be successfully removed from this effluent. The adsorptive capacity of the activated carbon was extended as a result of microbial activity inside the anaerobic reactor. The results of this investigation suggest that the anaerobic biological granular activated carbon process could be used to alleviate the pollution problems experienced by the pulp and paper industry.

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Effect of Dissolved Oxygen on Phenols Breakthrough from GAC Adsorbers

Water Science & Technology ◽

10.2166/wst.1992.0560 ◽

1992 ◽

Vol 26 (5-6) ◽

pp. 1185-1193 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

R. D. Vidic ◽

M. T. Suidan

Keyword(s):

Biological Activity ◽

Activated Carbon ◽

Dissolved Oxygen ◽

Molecular Oxygen ◽

Adsorption Kinetics ◽

Carbon Surface ◽

Adsorptive Capacity ◽

Treatment Technology ◽

Test Environment ◽

Competitive Edge

This study demonstrates that molecular oxygen plays an important role in the adsorption of organic compounds from water by activated carbon. It was determined that the adsorptive capacity of granular activated carbon (GAC) for o-cresol can increase by almost 200% as a result of the presence of molecular oxygen in the test environment (oxic conditions). This increase in adsorptive capacity is not due to biological activity but can be totally attributed to the polymerization of o-cresol on the carbon surface under oxic conditions. The rate of adsorbate polymerization is such that the presence of molecular oxygen does not influence adsorption kinetics during the first 12 hours of adsorbent-adsorbate contact. However, the concentration of dissolved oxygen in the feed to a GAC adsorber can significantly influence the breakthrough of adsorbate. As the concentration of dissolved oxygen increased, more of this increased capacity is utilized during the early phase of breakthrough and, consequently, initial breakthrough is delayed. This phenomenon might completely change the existing procedures for the design and operation of GAC adsorbers in that it provides a competitive edge for adsorption as a treatment technology in water purification.

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