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Dissertation
Specific organic removals and the significance of competitive adsorption in granular activated carbon treatment of drinking waters
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Drexel University
Jun 1982
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17918/00008643
Abstract
The efficacy of GAC for removing specific organics from drinking water was evaluated from data collected during two pilot scale studies. The initial pilot study was designed to elucidate the effects of aqueous chlorine on GAC performance at a surface water treatment plant and the second pilot study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of GAC treatment for removal of synthetic organics present in a groundwater fed surface impoundment. Competitive interactions during GAC treatment of drinking waters were evaluated from the results obtained during both studies. Comprehensive sampling and analysis programs were conducted to address the design tasks of the two studies and a unique on-line continuous liquid-liquid extraction apparatus was developed and validated to help meet the sampling objectives of the first study. The extractor is capable of collecting quantitative composites of drinking water organics present at nanogram to microgram concentration ranges and was most efficient for recovery of non-polar organics boiling above 150 degrees centigrade. Therefore, the system is complementary to the purge and trap analyses routinely used to isolate more volatile drinking water organics. During the surface water study chlorine was found to alter GAC properties chemically, physically and biologically. The greatest changes occurred in uppermost bed regions where chlorine increased surface oxides on the GAC; changed the physical nature of the carbon by increasing hydrophilicity with increased exposure; inhibited bacterial growth; and decreased the capacity of GAC for non-polar organics. Competitive adsorption effects during the surface water study were found to be significant for transient and/or highly variable low level organics prior to attainment of an equilibrium capacity. A much more uniform and less diverse feed was applied to the carbon beds during the groundwater study and competition became significant after attainment of an equilibrium capacity.
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Details
- Title
- Specific organic removals and the significance of competitive adsorption in granular activated carbon treatment of drinking waters
- Creators
- Thomas Lester Yohe
- Awarding Institution
- Drexel University
- Degree Awarded
- Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
- Publisher
- Drexel University; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Number of pages
- xvi, 306 pages
- Resource Type
- Dissertation
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Drexel University
- Other Identifier
- 991021888732804721