scholarly journals Machine Learning Models to Predict Early Breakthrough of Recalcitrant Organic Micropollutants in Granular Activated Carbon Treatment of Water

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yoko Koyama

Granular activated carbon (GAC) adsorption is frequently considered to control recalcitrant organic micropollutants (MPs) in both drinking water and wastewater. To predict full-scale GAC adsorber performance, bench- and/or pilot- scale studies are widely used. These studies have generated a wealth of MP breakthrough curves. The overarching aim of this research was to develop machine learning (ML) models from these data to predict MP breakthrough from adsorbent, adsorbate, and background water matrix properties. These models provide a simple and fast tool to predict GAC performance. To develop information for model calibration, MP breakthrough curves were collected from the peer-reviewed literature, research reports, and engineering reports. These data sets, which included results from rapid small-scale column tests (RSSCTs) and pilot/full-scale adsorbers, were analyzed to determine the bed volumes of water that could be treated until MP breakthrough reached ten percent of the influent MP concentration (BV10). The data set encompassed 43 MPs (including neutral and ionizable organic compounds), 3 GAC types by base material (18 unique GAC products), and 38 water matrices, including groundwater, surface water, and treated wastewater. Approximately 400 data sets were split into training, validation, and test sets. Seventeen candidate features, such as MP properties (Abraham parameters), background water matrix characteristics, and GAC properties, were explored in ML models to predict log-10-transformed BV10 (logBV10). BV10 values obtained from the resulting predictive model were highly correlated with experimentally determined BV10 values (coefficient of determination ~0.89 for logBV10 prediction), and the most effective model predicted BV10 with an absolute mean error of ~ 0.11 log units. Key drivers influencing BV10 prediction included the MP’s partitioning coefficient between air and hexadecane (Abraham parameter L); dissolved organic matter concentration in background water matrix; and the adsorbent’s point of zero charge (pzc). The model can be used to estimate GAC bed life and select effective GACs for the removal of MPs such as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), pesticides, pharmaceuticals, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in a wide range of water types.

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (10) ◽  
pp. 2742-2751 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tony Merle ◽  
Detlef R. U. Knappe ◽  
Wouter Pronk ◽  
Bernadette Vogler ◽  
Juliane Hollender ◽  
...  

This study aimed to compare three approaches for predicting the service life of full-scale GAC adsorbers for the removal of micropollutants.


2014 ◽  
Vol 70 (7) ◽  
pp. 1271-1278 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Zietzschmann ◽  
J. Müller ◽  
A. Sperlich ◽  
A. S. Ruhl ◽  
F. Meinel ◽  
...  

This study investigates the applicability of the rapid small-scale column test (RSSCT) concept for testing of granular activated carbon (GAC) for organic micro-pollutants (OMPs) removal from wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluent. The chosen experimental setup was checked using pure water, WWTP effluent, different GAC products, and variable hydrodynamic conditions with different flow velocities and differently sized GAC, as well as different empty bed contact times (EBCTs). The setup results in satisfying reproducibility and robustness. RSSCTs in combination with WWTP effluent are effective when comparing the OMP removal potentials of different GAC products and are a useful tool for the estimation of larger filters. Due to the potentially high competition between OMPs and bulk organics, breakthrough curves are likely to have unfavorable shapes when treating WWTP effluent. This effect can be counteracted by extending the EBCT. With respect to the strong competition observed in GAC treatment of WWTP effluent, the small organic acid and neutral substances are retained longer in the RSSCT filters and are likely to cause the majority of the observed adsorption competition with OMPs.


2010 ◽  
Vol 75 (4) ◽  
pp. 565-573 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mirjana Ninkovic ◽  
Rada Petrovic ◽  
Mila Lausevic

Public water systems use granular activated carbon in order to eliminate pesticides. After saturation, the used activated carbon is regenerated and reused in order to reduce the costs of water production and minimize waste. In this study, the adsorption of 10 different chlorinated pesticides from water using columns packed with commercial virgin and regenerated granular activated carbon was simulated in order to compare their adsorption capacities for different chlorinated pesticides. The breakthrough curves showed that chlorinated pesticides from the group of hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) were poorly adsorbed, followed by cyclodiens as averagely adsorbed and the derivatives of halogenated aromatic hydrocarbons (DDT) as strongly absorbed. However, the adsorption capacity of regenerated granular activated carbon was considerably lower for tested pesticides compared to the virgin granular carbon. In addition, rinsing of the pesticides after the saturation point is a far more efficient process on regenerated carbon.


2015 ◽  
Vol 81 (19) ◽  
pp. 6864-6872 ◽  
Author(s):  
Timothy M. LaPara ◽  
Katheryn Hope Wilkinson ◽  
Jacqueline M. Strait ◽  
Raymond M. Hozalski ◽  
Michael J. Sadowksy ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTThe bacterial community composition of the full-scale biologically active, granular activated carbon (BAC) filters operated at the St. Paul Regional Water Services (SPRWS) was investigated using Illumina MiSeq analysis of PCR-amplified 16S rRNA gene fragments. These bacterial communities were consistently diverse (Shannon index, >4.4; richness estimates, >1,500 unique operational taxonomic units [OTUs]) throughout the duration of the 12-month study period. In addition, only modest shifts in the quantities of individual bacterial populations were observed; of the 15 most prominent OTUs, the most highly variable population (aVariovoraxsp.) modulated less than 13-fold over time and less than 8-fold from filter to filter. The most prominent population in the profiles was aNitrospirasp., representing 13 to 21% of the community. Interestingly, very few of the known ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB; <0.07%) and no ammonia-oxidizingArchaeawere detected in the profiles. Quantitative PCR ofamoAgenes, however, suggested that AOB were prominent in the bacterial communities (amoA/16S rRNA gene ratio, 1 to 10%). We conclude, therefore, that the BAC filters at the SPRWS potentially contained significant numbers of unidentified and novel ammonia-oxidizing microorganisms that possessamoAgenes similar to those of previously described AOB.


Water ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 1830 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jia Niu ◽  
Ikuro Kasuga ◽  
Futoshi Kurisu ◽  
Hiroaki Furumai

Granular activated carbon (GAC) has been widely introduced to advanced drinking water purification plants to remove organic matter and ammonium. Backwashing, which is the routine practice for GAC maintenance, is an important operational factor influencing the performance of GAC and its microbial biomass. In this study, the effects of backwashing on the ammonium removal potential of GAC were evaluated. In addition, abundances of ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) and ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) on GAC were analyzed. GAC samples before and after backwashing were collected from a full-scale drinking water purification plant. Samplings were conducted before and after implementation of prechlorination of raw water. The results showed that the ammonium removal potential of the GAC increased by 12% after backwashing before prechlorination (p < 0.01). After implementing the prechlorination, the ammonium removal potential of the GAC decreased by 12% even after backwashing (p < 0.01). The AOA was predominant on the GAC in the two samplings. Regardless of prechlorination, the amounts of the AOA and the AOB remained at the same level before and after backwashing. Analysis of the backwashing water indicated that the amounts of the AOA and AOB washed out from the GAC were negligible (0.08%–0.26%) compared with their original amounts on the GAC. These results revealed the marginal role of backwashing on the biomass of ammonia oxidizers on GAC. However, the results also revealed that backwashing could have a negative impact on the ammonium removal potential of GAC during prechlorination.


2014 ◽  
Vol 36 (6) ◽  
pp. 681-692 ◽  
Author(s):  
Outi E. Kaarela ◽  
Heli A. Härkki ◽  
Marja R.T. Palmroth ◽  
Tuula A. Tuhkanen

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