Predicting trace organic compound attenuation with spectroscopic parameters in powdered activated carbon processes

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Water Treatment Technologies
• Adsorption Processes

Background:

• Trace organic compounds (TOrCs) removal is critical for water quality.
• Powdered activated carbon (PAC) is a known effective method for TOrC removal.
• PAC effectiveness depends on dosage, contact time, and carbon type.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate PAC effectiveness for TOrC removal in wastewater.
• To investigate the adsorption mechanisms of TOrCs onto PAC.
• To assess predictive models for TOrC attenuation by PAC.

Main Methods:

• Studied TOrC attenuation in secondary wastewater effluents using four PAC materials.
• Analyzed the correlation between TOrC removal rate and log Dow values.
• Applied the modified Chick-Watson model and spectroscopic surrogate models (UV absorbance, total fluorescence) for prediction.

Main Results:

• Hydrophobic interaction was the primary adsorption mechanism for most TOrCs, correlating with log Dow values.
• The modified Chick-Watson model showed good predictive power for TOrC attenuation.
• Spectroscopic surrogate models provided excellent predictions of TOrC attenuation across various conditions.

Conclusions:

• PAC is effective for TOrC removal from wastewater, driven by hydrophobic interactions.
• Predictive models, especially spectroscopic surrogates, can accurately forecast TOrC removal by PAC.
• Spectroscopic monitoring offers potential for real-time process control and optimization in water treatment plants.