Different Adsorption Behavior between Perfluorohexane Sulfonate (PFHxS) and Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) on Granular Activated Carbon in Full-Scale Drinking Water Treatment Plants

Perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) in water have detrimental effects on human health, and the removal rate of these compounds by conventional water treatment processes is low. Given that the levels of PFCs have been regulated in many regions, a granular activated carbon (GAC) adsorption process has been used in drinking water treatment plants to maintain concentrations of PFCs, perfluorohexyl sulfonate (PFHxS), and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), below 70 ng/L. However, it was found that these concentrations in the final product water in local water utilities unexpectedly increased because of inappropriate operation and maintenance methods of GAC, such as its inefficient regeneration and replacement cycle. In this study, the changes in PFC concentration were monitored and analyzed in raw and final water of two large-scale water treatment plants for eight months. Additionally, the correlation of the GAC replacement cycle with the removal efficiency of PFHxS and PFOA was investigated in a total of 30 GAC basins of two drinking water treatment plants. A lab-scale experiment with a coconut-shell-based GAC column showed the possibly different mechanism of removal between PFHxS and PFOA, indicating that the sulfonate-based PFCs may be a limiting factor in GAC replacement cycle for PFCs removal.

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Nanoplastics adsorption and removal efficiency by granular activated carbon used in drinking water treatment process

The Science of The Total Environment ◽

10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.148175 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 148175

Author(s):

Lina Ramirez Arenas ◽

Stéphan Ramseier Gentile ◽

Stéphane Zimmermann ◽

Serge Stoll

Keyword(s):

Drinking Water ◽

Activated Carbon ◽

Water Treatment ◽

Removal Efficiency ◽

Treatment Process ◽

Drinking Water Treatment ◽

Granular Activated Carbon ◽

Water Treatment Process

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Fluidisation characteristics of granular activated carbon in drinking water treatment applications

Advanced Powder Technology ◽

10.1016/j.apt.2021.06.017 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

O.J.I. Kramer ◽

C. van Schaik ◽

P.D.R. Dacomba-Torres ◽

P.J. de Moel ◽

E.S. Boek ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Drinking Water ◽

Activated Carbon ◽

Water Treatment ◽

Drinking Water Treatment ◽

Granular Activated Carbon

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Experimental validation of a test to estimate the remaining adsorption capacity of granular activated carbon for taste and odour compounds

Environmental Science Water Research & Technology ◽

10.1039/c8ew00600h ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 5 (3) ◽

pp. 609-617 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Yifeng Huang ◽

Zhijie Nie ◽

Jie Yuan ◽

Audrey Murray ◽

Yi Li ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Drinking Water ◽

Activated Carbon ◽

Water Treatment ◽

Adsorption Capacity ◽

Experimental Validation ◽

Drinking Water Treatment ◽

Granular Activated Carbon ◽

Adsorptive Capacity

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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Perfluorooctane sulphonate and perfluorooctanoic acid in drinking and environmental waters

Philosophical Transactions of The Royal Society A Mathematical Physical and Engineering Sciences ◽

10.1098/rsta.2009.0109 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 367 (1904) ◽

pp. 4119-4136 ◽

Cited By ~ 70

Author(s):

Paul C. Rumsby ◽

Clare L. McLaughlin ◽

Tom Hall

Keyword(s):

Drinking Water ◽

Activated Carbon ◽

Water Treatment ◽

Degradation Products ◽

Drinking Water Treatment ◽

Perfluorooctanoic Acid ◽

Consumer Products ◽

Environmental Waters ◽

Perfluorinated Chemicals ◽

Low Levels

Perfluorooctane sulphonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) are chemicals that have been used for many years as surfactants in a variety of industrial and consumer products. Owing to their persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic (PBT) characteristics, PFOS has been phased out by its principal producer and the use of PFOA has been reduced. This PBT potential and a number of pollution incidents have led in recent years to an increase in studies surveying the concentrations of PFOS and PFOA in environmental waters worldwide. This paper reviews the results of these studies, as well as the monitoring that was conducted after the pollution incidents. The results of surveys suggest that PFOS and PFOA are found in environmental waters worldwide at low levels. In general, these levels are below health-based values set by international authoritative bodies for drinking water. There have been limited measurements of these chemicals in drinking water, but again these are below health-based values, except in some cases following pollution incidents. Monitoring studies suggested that where PFOS and PFOA were detected, they were at similar levels in both source and drinking water, suggesting that drinking water treatment does not remove these chemicals. However, new data show that PFOS and PFOA are effectively removed by granular activated carbon absorbers in practice. Further research is required on the newer perfluorinated chemicals that appear to be safer, but their degradation products have not as yet been fully studied.

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Leakage of soluble microbial products from biological activated carbon filtration in drinking water treatment plants and its influence on health risks

Chemosphere ◽

10.1016/j.chemosphere.2018.03.123 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 202 ◽

pp. 626-636 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Shen Hong ◽

Tang Xian-chun ◽

Wu Nan-xiang ◽

Chen Hong-bin

Keyword(s):

Drinking Water ◽

Activated Carbon ◽

Water Treatment ◽

Health Risks ◽

Drinking Water Treatment ◽

Soluble Microbial Products ◽

Biological Activated Carbon ◽

Water Treatment Plants ◽

Microbial Products ◽

Carbon Filtration

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Assessing biofilm on biofilter media (granular activated carbon and anthracite) from a pilot scale drinking water treatment plant

10.32920/ryerson.14648484.v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Nick Dimas

Keyword(s):

Drinking Water ◽

Activated Carbon ◽

Water Treatment ◽

Treatment Plant ◽

Drinking Water Treatment ◽

Granular Activated Carbon ◽

Water Treatment Plant ◽

Pilot Scale ◽

Microbial Biofilms ◽

Attachment Sites

Drinking Water Treatment Plants employ biofiltration systems to increase water quality through nutrient reduction. Microbial biofilms housed in biofilter media, are responsible for nutrient uptake and biodegradation. The purpose of this study was to re-evaluate the function and efficiency of biofilter media and investigate seasonal changes in the microbial populations. TOC and DO were more reduced in Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) media than in anthracite. Heterotrophic plate counts (HPC) were conducted to establish seasonal trends on microbial population. PCR-amplified 16S rRNA fragments were sequenced to compare microbial communities. Summer samples have higher HPC than winter samples. Summer samples yielded a reduction in microbial diversity and no detectable overlap with winter samples. Confocal microscopy conducted to qualitatively visualize the structure of biofilms was complemented by quantitative COMSTAT analysis showing GAC with double the biomass due to a greater level of attachment sites. GAC outcompetes anthracite in chemical adsorption and biological activity.

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