Issue 10, 2020

Assessment of the breakthrough of micropollutants in full-scale granular activated carbon adsorbers by rapid small-scale column tests and a novel pilot-scale sampling approach

Abstract

This study aimed to compare three approaches for predicting the service life of full-scale GAC adsorbers for the removal of micropollutants. The approaches included (i) rapid small-scale column tests (RSSCTs), (ii) two pilot-scale sampling approaches, and (iii) predictive correlations that consider micropollutant properties and background water matrix characteristics. The RSSCT could predict full-scale performance only if a micropollutant-specific fouling index was applied. At the pilot-scale, water samples were collected (1) over time at the top sampling point only (empty bed contact time (EBCT) of 1 minute) to minimize time to breakthrough (method 1) and (2) at different column depths at a single time point (method 2). Breakthrough curves obtained with method 2 more closely matched those obtained at the full-scale. In addition, method 2 is more convenient since it requires only one sampling campaign. Method 2 was used as a prognostic tool to predict breakthrough curves for micropollutants without full-scale data and a comparison with an existing prediction model gave satisfactory results for 6 out of 13 compounds.

Graphical abstract: Assessment of the breakthrough of micropollutants in full-scale granular activated carbon adsorbers by rapid small-scale column tests and a novel pilot-scale sampling approach

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
28 4 2020
Accepted
08 7 2020
First published
10 7 2020

Environ. Sci.: Water Res. Technol., 2020,6, 2742-2751

Assessment of the breakthrough of micropollutants in full-scale granular activated carbon adsorbers by rapid small-scale column tests and a novel pilot-scale sampling approach

T. Merle, D. R. U. Knappe, W. Pronk, B. Vogler, J. Hollender and U. von Gunten, Environ. Sci.: Water Res. Technol., 2020, 6, 2742 DOI: 10.1039/D0EW00405G

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements