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ACTIVATED CARBON ADSORPTION OF TRACE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
Citation:
Snoeyink, V., J. McCreary, AND C. Murin. ACTIVATED CARBON ADSORPTION OF TRACE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/2-77/223.
Description:
Research was conducted to determine how effectively humic substances and the trace contaminants 2-methylisoborneol (MIB), geosmin, the chlorophenols and polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons were adsorbed by activated carbon under the competitive adsorption conditions encountered in natural waters. Humic substances compete with MIB and geosmin for adsorption sites on activated carbon and significantly reduce its capacity for these compounds. These naturally occurring odorous compounds were found to be much more strongly adsorbed than the humic substances. Both the chlorophenols and the polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons are very strongly adsorbed. Strong competition was observed between anionic and neutral species of 2,4-dichlorophenol and 2,4,6-trichlorophenol. The presence of the various humic substances caused a significant reduction in chlorophenol adsorption capacity. Humic acid did not interfere with the rate of adsorption of a model polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbon, anthracene.