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IRON OPTIMIZATION FOR FENTON-DRIVEN OXIDATION OF MTBE-SPENT GRANULAR ACTIVATED CARBON
Citation:
HULING, S. G., P. K. JONES, AND T. R. LEE. IRON OPTIMIZATION FOR FENTON-DRIVEN OXIDATION OF MTBE-SPENT GRANULAR ACTIVATED CARBON. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY. American Chemical Society, Washington, DC, 41(11):4090-4096, (2007).
Description:
Fenton-driven chemical regeneration of granular activated carbon (GAC) is accomplished through the addition of H2O2 and iron (Fe) to spent GAC. The overall objective of this treatment process is to transform target contaminants into less toxic byproducts, re-establish the sorptive capacity of the carbon for the target chemicals, increase the useful life of the GAC, and reduce the overall costs for GAC regeneration and water or air treatment. Iron is a critical reactant for effective and efficient contaminant oxidation and GAC regeneration. Varying background quantities of iron are found in commercially available GAC, however, it is anticipated that Fe amendment to GAC will be required in nearly all cases to successfully facilitate the Fenton reaction. Insufficient or excessive Fe may have negative consequences on carbon regeneration preventing the treatment objectives from being achieved. The objective of this study was to determine the optimal Fe concentration to chemically regenerate GAC. MTBE removal increased by an order of magnitude over Fe-unamended GAC. The optimal total Fe concentration in GAC resulting in the greatest MTBE removal and maximum Fe loading efficiency (MTBE oxidized/Fe loaded to GAC) was 6710 mg/Kg (1020 mg/Kg background; 5690 mg/Kg amended Fe). H2O2 reaction with aqueous Fe (soluble + suspended particulate) was determined to be minimal and that the Fenton-driven reaction was predominantly (99%) attributed to GAC-bound Fe found within the porous structure of the GAC.