Design of Carbon Beds to Remove Humic Substances
Publication: Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 109, Issue 3
Abstract
The homogeneous surface diffusion model (HSDM) was found capable of simulating effluent concentration history profiles for a commercial humic acid, a peat fulvic acid (PFA), and a coagulated PFA. The model successfully simulated column data for four granular activated carbons (GAC), several empty bed contact times (EBCTs), two GAC mesh sizes, several influent concentrations, and several hydraulic loadings. Accordingly, the HSDM was used to evaluate the impact of process design variables on cost and adsorber performance for the removal of these humic substances. Model calculations were carried out to evaluate the impact of EBCT and influent concentration on adsorber performance. It was found that for each doubling of EBCT in the range of 3.77 minutes–75.4 minutes the bed life of the carbon was more than doubled. For 50% reductions in influent concentration, the bed life was about doubled for influent TOC concentrations ranging from 1 mg/L–20 mg/L. By estimating the cost of treatment for various EBCTs, the most economical EBCT was determined for a single adsorber, for two adsorbers in‐series, for two adsorbers inparallel, and for three adsorbers in‐parallel. Two adsorbers operated in‐parallel were found to be more economical than a single adsorber, or two adsorbers operated in‐series. The lowest cost operation was for three adsorbers operated in‐parallel. Treatment costs for two adsorbers in‐parallel were found to decrease with increasing treatment plant size, decreasing influent concentration, and dereasing GAC particle size.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
References
1.
Clark, R. M., and Dorsey, P., “The Cost of Compliance: An EPA Estimate for Organics Control,” Journal American Water Works Association, Vol. 72, No. 8, Aug., 1980, pp. 450–457.
2.
Crittenden, J. C., and Weber, W. J., “Predictive Model for Design of Fixed‐Bed Adsorbers: Parameter Estimation and Model Development,” Journal of the Environmental Engineering Division, ASCE, Vol. 104, No. EE2, Proc. Paper 13685 Apr., 1978, pp. 185–197.
3.
Crittenden, J. C., and Weber, W. J., “Predictive Model for Design of Fixed‐Bed Adsorbers: Single Component Model Verification,” Journal of the Environmental Engineering Division, ASCE, Vol. 104, No. EE3, Proc. Paper 13816, June, 1978, pp. 433–443.
4.
Draper, N. R., and Smith, H., Applied Regression Analysis, 2nd ed., Wiley Interscience, New York, N.Y., 1980, pp. 472–473.
5.
Hand, D. W., Crittenden, J. C., and Thacker, W. E., “User‐Oriented Solutions to the Homogeneous Surface Diffusion Model for Adsorption Process Design Calculations: Part I. Batch Reactor Solutions,” Journal of the Environmental Engineering Division, ASCE, Vol. 109, No. EE1, Proc. Paper 17681, Mar., 1983, pp. 82–101.
6.
Lee, M. C., “Humic Substances Removal by Activated Carbon,” thesis presented to the University of Illinois, at Urbana‐Champaign, Ill., in 1980, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy.
7.
Lee, M. C., Snoeyink, V. L., and Crittenden, J. C., “Activated Carbon Adsorption of Humic Substances,” Journal American Water Works Association, Vol. 73, No. 8, Aug., 1981, pp. 440–446.
8.
Martin, H., “Low Peclet Number Particle‐to‐Fluid Heat and Mass Transfer in Packed Beds,” Chemical Engineering Science, Vol. 33, 1978, pp. 913–919.
9.
Pirbazari, M., “Performance Predictions for Removal of Toxic and Carcinogenic Compounds from Water Supplies by Adsorption,” presented to the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, in 1981, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy.
10.
Polson, A., “Some Aspects of Diffusion in Solution and a Definition of a Colloidal Particle,” Journal of Physical and Colloid Chemistry, Vol. 54, 1950, pp. 649–652.
11.
Symons, J. M., Bellar, T. A., Carswell, J. K., Demarco, J., Kropp, K. L., Robeck, G. G., Seeger, D. R., Slocum, C. J., Smith, B. L., and Stevens, A. A., “National Organics Reconnaissance Survey for Halogenated Organics,” Journal American Water Works Association, Vol. 67, 1975, pp. 634–647.
12.
Thacker, W. E., Snoeyink, V. L., and Crittenden, J. C., “Modeling of Activated Carbon and Coal Gasification Char Adsorbents in Single‐Soluted and Bisolute System,” UILU‐WRC‐81‐0161, Illinois State Water Resources Center, University of Illinois, Urbana‐Champaign, July, 1981, pp. 1–165.
13.
Weber, W. J., Jr., and Pirbazari, M., “Effectiveness of Activated Carbon for Removal of Toxic and/or Carcinogenic Compounds from Water Supplies,” Report EPA‐600/52‐81‐057, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, June, 1981.
14.
Willamson, J. E., Bazaire, K. E., and Geankoplis, C. J., “Liquid‐Phase Mass Transfer at Low Reynolds Number,” Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Fundamentals, Vol. 2, 1963, pp. 126–129.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 109 • Issue 3 • June 1983
Pages: 631 - 645
Copyright
Copyright © 1983 ASCE.
History
Published online: Jun 1, 1983
Published in print: Jun 1983
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.