You are here:
Fenton-driven oxidation of contaminant-spent granular activated carbon (GAC): GAC selection and implications
Citation:
Rusevova Crincoli, K., Patrick K. Jones, AND Scott G. Huling. Fenton-driven oxidation of contaminant-spent granular activated carbon (GAC): GAC selection and implications. SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT. Elsevier BV, AMSTERDAM, Netherlands, 734:139435, (2020). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.139435
Impact/Purpose:
A developing technology involves the chemical oxidation regeneration of granular activated carbon (GAC). A key decision involves the selection of GAC. It is incorrectly assumed all GAC behave similarly during oxidative treatment. Results indicate that the type of GAC selected in the treatment process plays a key role in the success and failure of the technology. Purpose/Objective The environmental or health problem addressed by the study. Oxidative treatment of large volumes of contaminated water is limited by low aqueous concentrations of the target contaminant leading to slow and/or inefficient reaction rates. However, adsorption immobilizes the contaminants allowing oxidative treatment to be focused on a much smaller volume; this synergy of adsorption oxidation allows greater treatment efficiency in the destruction of sorbed contaminants. A general description of the work and results. The scientific contributions of this research are the systematic approach to GAC characterization, and adsorption oxidation fundamentals. The data and information are new, relevant, and the findings are significant. The data and information include GAC structure, properties, behavior, and technological application of the adsorption oxidation treatment process. Parameters measured include surface area and pore volume, metals concentrations in GAC, H2O2 reaction rates, anions (i.e., Cl-, Br-), pH, and GAC functional groups. The long-term importance or significance of the findings. Significant improvement in the success of the technology at bench-, pilot- or field-scale can be achieved through appropriate selection of GAC. Data and information are provided that allows scientists and engineers to select GAC that exhibits physical and chemical characteristics highly favorable to the adsorption oxidation process. Who would be interested in or could apply the results (e.g. program or regional partners, general public, local communities). The adsorption oxidation treatment process is a developing technology and could be used to regenerate GAC on-site and in-situ. This could result in water treatment cost savings which would be of high interest to programs involving treatment of contaminated soil and aquifer materials (e.g. RCRA, CERCLA, UST), and drinking water programs (Clean Water).
Description:
Raw materials, activation methods, and post-activation treatment used in manufacturing granular activated carbon (GAC) results in a spectrum of physicochemical characteristics that potentially impact the adsorption oxidation technology. GACs (n=31) were characterized and used in the hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-based adsorption oxidation treatment of 2-chlorophenol (2CP)-spent GAC. The GACs exhibited a range in surface area, pore volume distribution, metals content, surface functionality, and H2O2 reaction. Chloride recovery, the treatment metric for 2CP oxidation, indicated a range in oxidation (0-49.2%) where bituminous coal- and wood-based GAC performed best. Similarly, a subset of GACs (n=12) amended with iron, methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE), and H2O2 exhibited a range in oxidative treatment (1.1-57.9%). Correlations between conventional GAC parameters and oxidative treatment were limited, suggesting that multiple parameters play a collective and compounding role. General correlations were established between GAC surface functionality, H2O2 reactivity, adsorption, and oxidative treatment which provided process insight. The order of GAC materials successfully used in the treatment process is bituminous-based coal > wood > coconut > peat. The adsorption oxidation treatment technology is GAC-dependent and that GAC selection is a key factor in the success of this technology.
URLs/Downloads:
DOI: Fenton-driven oxidation of contaminant-spent granular activated carbon (GAC): GAC selection and implications
Free access through PubMed Central