Removal of the Endocrine Disrupting Chemical Bisphenol A from Water by Activated Carbon
Physical properties including surface area, average porediameter, and micropore volume and chemical structure of the activated carbon was characterized by N2 adsorption experiment and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The high O content of carbon surface lead a negative effect to absorption capacity and low pH value, low temperature lead a positive effect to adsorption. The effect of humus in water to the removal was also studied and EDCs-humus bi-component adsorption model was established, it was found that there is strong competition between EDCs and humus. Due to this competition adsorption capacity of BPA greatly decreased especially when BPA concentration is very low. The adsorption kinetics test results indicated that the adsorption of BPA followed the first-order kinetics and the smaller diameter GAC could increase adsorption velocity.