Adsorption of Selected Pharmaceutical Compounds onto Activated Carbon in Dilute Aqueous Solutions Exemplified by Acetaminophen, Diclofenac, and Sulfamethoxazole.

The adsorption of three pharmaceuticals, namely, acetaminophen, diclofenac, and sulfamethoxazole onto granular activated carbon (GAC), was investigated. To study competitive adsorption, both dynamic and steady-state adsorption experiments were conducted by careful selection of pharmaceuticals with various affinities and molecular size. The effective diffusion coefficient of the adsorbate was increased with decease in particle size of GAC. The adsorption affinity represented as Langmuir was consistent with the ranking of the octanol-water partition coefficient, K(ow). The adsorption behavior in binary or tertiary systems could be described by competition adsorption. In the binary system adsorption replacement occurred, under which the adsorbate with the smaller K(ow) was replaced by the one with larger K(ow). Results also indicated that portion of the micropores could be occupied only by the small target compound, but not the larger adsorbates. In multiple-component systems the competition adsorption might significantly be affected by the macropores and less by the meso- or micropores.

Modeling the behaviors of adsorption and biodegradation in biological activated carbon filters.

This investigation developed a non-steady-state numerical model to differentiate the adsorption and biodegradation quantities of a biological activated carbon (BAC) column. The mechanisms considered in this model are adsorption, biodegradation, convection and diffusion. Simulations were performed to evaluate the effects of the major parameters, the packing media size and the superficial velocity, on the adsorption and biodegradation performances for the removal of dissolved organic carbon based on dimensionless analysis. The model predictions are in agreement with the experimental data by adjusting the liquid-film mass transfer coefficient (k(bf)), which has high correlation with the Stanton number. The Freundlich isotherm constant (N(F)), together with the maximum specific substrate utilization rate (k(f)) and the diffusion coefficient (D(f)), is the most sensitive variable affecting the performance of the BAC. Decreasing the particle size results in more substrate diffusing across the biofilm, and increases the ratio of adsorption rather than biodegradation.

Mathematical model of the non-steady-state adsorption and biodegradation capacities of BAC filters.

This research was focused on developing a non-steady-state numerical model to differentiate the adsorption and biodegradation quantities of a biological activated carbon (BAC) column. The mechanisms considered in this model included adsorption, biodegradation, convection and diffusion. Simulations were performed to evaluate the effects of some parameters such as specific biodegradation rates and diffusivities on adsorption and biodegradation performances for the removal of dissolved organic matter from water. The results show that the developed model can predict the experimental data well. The biofilm developed around the BAC granules can hinder the mass transfer of the substrate onto the GAC surface, and the adsorption process will be restricted by the biofilm thickness. Although increasing the specific biodegradation rate can increase the performance of biodegradation, the adsorption efficiency will be decreased by lowering the boundary concentration in the interface of GAC. On the contrary, increasing the diffusivity can increase both the adsorption and biodegradation efficiencies simultaneously; so that the overall removal efficiency can be promoted through the improvement of mass transfer.

Identifying the rejection mechanism for nanofiltration membranes fouled by humic acid and calcium ions exemplified by acetaminophen, sulfamethoxazole, and triclosan.

This research investigated the fouling effect of humic acid and humic acid/calcium ions on the rejection of three target compounds, i.e., acetaminophen, sulfamethoxazole, and triclosan, by two nanofiltration (NF) membranes. A modified Hermia fouling model was used to describe the fouling process. The effects of solute and membrane characteristics on the rejection and flux decline at various pH levels and with various foulants were also investigated. Results show that fouling mechanisms include complete blocking and gel layer formation. The presence of humic acid and humic acid/calcium ions may positively influence the rejection of hydrophilic compounds and neutral compounds rejected only by size exclusion. The experimental rejections of solute by the NF270 membrane correlate well with the theoretical rejection model in which only size exclusion was considered. For NF membranes with pore sizes larger than the solutes (e.g., the NTR7450 membrane), the rejection could be determined from the model combining both size exclusion and electrostatic exclusion.

Evaluating and elucidating the formation of nitrogen-contained disinfection by-products during pre-ozonation and chlorination.

The effects of pre-ozonation on the formation of haloacetonitriles (HANs), trichloronitromethane (TCNM), and haloketones (HKs) during chlorination were evaluated. Ozone dose used in this study was 8.0, 10.0 and 25.0 mg O(3)/min. Results showed high UV(254) reduction (>80%) and relatively low dissolved organic carbon removal (40-70%) after ozonation, indicating that ozone might change significantly the chemical properties of natural organic matter presented in the raw water. Undesired ozonation by-products such as aldehydes and ketones were also formed during ozonation. At high ozone dose of 25.0 mg O(3)/min, the formation of dichloroacetonitrile and bromochloroacetonitrile were reduced significantly. Chlorination of the ozonated water formed high concentration of TCNM and HKs were 8-10 and 31-48 microg/L, respectively. It was also found that continuous hydrolysis at longer reaction time rapidly decreased the formation of HKs. Ozonation prior to chlorination practice exhibited a negative effect on TCNM and HKs reduction. A model based on the dissolved organic carbon and chlorine decay was developed not only for determining the reaction rate constants, e.g. formation and hydrolysis of HANs, HKs and TCNM, but also for interpreting the mechanisms of formation and hydrolysis for HANs, HKs and TCNM during the chlorination of natural organic matter.