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Removal of micropollutants by fresh and colonized magnetic powdered activated carbon

Kim M Lompe1, Sung Vo Duy2, Sigrid Peldszus3

  • 1NSERC Industrial Chair on Drinking Water, Department of Civil, Geological and Mining Engineering, Polytechnique Montréal, P.O. Box 6079, Downtown Station, Montreal, Qc, H3C 3A7, Canada.

Journal of Hazardous Materials
|August 21, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Magnetic powdered activated carbon (MPAC) shows comparable micropollutant adsorption to conventional powdered activated carbon (PAC). Aged MPAC still effectively removes most micropollutants in drinking water treatment.

Area of Science:

  • Environmental Science
  • Water Treatment Technologies
  • Adsorption Science

Background:

  • Conventional powdered activated carbon (PAC) is widely used for drinking water treatment, but its separation can be challenging.
  • Magnetic powdered activated carbon (MPAC) offers potential for easier magnetic separation.
  • The adsorption performance and kinetics of MPAC, especially when aged, require thorough evaluation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the adsorption capacity and kinetics of micropollutants (MPs) on fresh and aged magnetic powdered activated carbon (MPAC).
  • To compare MPAC with varying maghemite content against bare PAC and pure maghemite.
  • To assess the performance of MPAC as a magnetically separable alternative for drinking water treatment.

Main Methods:

  • Batch adsorption experiments were conducted using MPAC with different maghemite mass fractions (10%, 38%, 54%), bare PAC, and pure maghemite.
  • Adsorption isotherms were analyzed using Freundlich models to determine adsorption capacity (KF).
  • Adsorption kinetics were evaluated using pseudo-second order models, and the performance of aged adsorbents was tested.

Main Results:

  • MPAC, normalized to PAC content, exhibited similar MP adsorption capacities to bare PAC.
  • Adsorption capacity (KF) ranged from 2.3-37 μg/mg (L/μg)1/n for all MPs and adsorbents.
  • Adsorption rate constants decreased with increasing maghemite content; aged adsorbents showed 10 times lower capacity.
  • Despite aging, MPAC achieved >90% removal for most MPs within 5 minutes at typical reactor concentrations.

Conclusions:

  • MPAC demonstrates comparable micropollutant adsorption to PAC on a mass basis.
  • Increasing maghemite content in MPAC reduces adsorption rate constants.
  • Aged MPAC retains significant efficacy in removing micropollutants, suggesting its viability for drinking water treatment.
  • MPAC's magnetic separability offers an advantage over conventional PAC in water treatment applications.
Keywords:
BioreactorDrinking waterIONPMagnetic activated carbonMicropollutants

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