Removal of Nonbiodegradable Chemicals from Mixtures during Granular Activated Carbon Bioregeneration
Publication: Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 131, Issue 2
Abstract
The purpose of this research was to better understand the interactions between biodegradable and nonbiodegradable synthetic organic chemicals (SOCs) during bioregeneration of biologically active granular activated carbon (GAC) columns. Continuous-flow GAC bioregeneration experiments were conducted at different empty-bed contact times (EBCTs) using mixtures of a biodegradable (benzene or toluene) and a nonbiodegradable (perchloroethylene or carbon tetrachloride) SOC. The GAC was pre-equilibrated with respect to each combination of SOCs to facilitate the study of bioregeneration. If no dissolved oxygen limitations occurred in the bioregeneration experiments, the effluent biodegradable SOC concentration decreased over time and then remained low, after which the effluent nonbiodegradable SOC concentration also decreased because of the increased availability of adsorption sites on the GAC. Pre- and postexperimental GAC loadings show a marked decrease in the biodegradable SOC loading as well as an increase in the nonbiodegradable SOC loading. Greater degrees of bioregeneration were found for higher SOC equilibrium concentrations and longer EBCTs. Bioregeneration ranged from 28.8 to 45.5% of the initial biodegradable SOC loading after . These results illustrate an increase in GAC adsorption capacity for nonbiodegradable SOCs through bioregeneration of GAC containing biodegradable SOCs.
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Acknowledgments
This research was funded by the U.S. EPA NCERQA Grant No. R 826170. Also, the writers would like to thank Teresa L. Hart for her work on the early stages of this research project.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 131 • Issue 2 • February 2005
Pages: 196 - 205
Copyright
© 2005 ASCE.
History
Received: Jun 10, 2003
Accepted: Mar 23, 2004
Published online: Feb 1, 2005
Published in print: Feb 2005
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