Disinfection By-Product Precursor Adsorption as Function of GAC Properties: Case Study
Publication: Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 131, Issue 10
Abstract
Four different granular activated carbons (GACs) were tested at the bench scale for the adsorption of disinfection by-product (DBP) precursors and were found to be spent at different rates for the Lincoln (Nebraska) water system. This study examined the value of several physical and chemical tests for ranking the potential of different GACs for DBP precursor removal for one water utility. The surface area in the micro- and mesopore range and tannin adsorption were found to be useful indicators of DBP precursor adsorption potential. GACs with the largest surface in the pore-width range were able to treat the largest amount of water before being spent. A high value obtained in the tannin adsorption test was observed for the GACs that treated large water volumes.
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Acknowledgments
This study was made possible by funding from the Lincoln Water System (LWS). Its contents are solely the responsibility of the writers and do not necessarily represent the official views of the funding agency. At the time the work was performed, all the writers were affiliated with the University of Nebraska Environmental Engineering Program. The considerable assistance of Eric Lee of the LWS and Dr. Gustavo Larsen and Mr. Edgar Lotero of UNL Chemical Engineering are sincerely acknowledged.
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© 2005 ASCE.
History
Received: Jun 22, 2004
Accepted: Nov 29, 2004
Published online: Oct 1, 2005
Published in print: Oct 2005
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