Evaluating GAC adsorbers for the removal of PCBs and toxaphene

Massoud Pirbazari, Badri N. Badriyha, Sung Hyun Kim, Richard I. Miltner

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    20 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    The research described here investigated the effectiveness of activated carbon adsorption for the removal of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and toxaphene from organic-free water (OFW) and humic acid background solution, using bench-scale equilibrium and rate tests. In addition, complexation experiments were conducted to assess the extent of association between the target pollutants and humic acid (HA). The dispersed-flow homogeneous surface diffusion model was satisfactory for predicting the performance of fixed-bed adsorbers for removing PCBs from OFW. When HA was present, carbon capacity was greatly reduced because of complexation and competitive adsorption effects, and the adsorber dynamics were complicated by the presence of various species such as unassociated HA and pollutant-HA complexes.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)83-90
    Number of pages8
    JournalJournal / American Water Works Association
    Volume84
    Issue number2
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 1992

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • General Chemistry
    • Water Science and Technology

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