Laboratory activated carbon test methods for water utilities.

Abstract

All the significant parameters which are necessary to describe the adsorption behavior of granular activated carbons have been discussed. Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of the proposed test concept. First, we have to evaluate the equilibrium parameters, KF and n. Frick has shown how to determine those parameters for multicomponent solutions. For comparison and classification of different carbons, we can calculate the V* v-OSW and the V* v-PNP values corresponding to m3 water treated per m3 GAC. Secondly, we can determine a mass transfer coefficient with the film (Table: see text) diffusion test and evaluate an effective external surface area Aeff. Finally, we can measure an effective diffusion coefficient as a characteristic value for the internal kinetic behavior of the carbon under investigation. With the results of the granular activated carbon tests and the diffusion characteristics of the organics in the bulk liquid, it is possible to predict filter breakthrough curves of unknown multicomponent solutions, as discussed by Baldauf.