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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/66875
Description
Title
Humic Substances Removal by Activated Carbon
Author(s)
Lee, Michael Chiang-Yuan
Issue Date
1980
Department of Study
Civil Engineering
Discipline
Environmental Engineering
Degree Granting Institution
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Degree Name
Ph.D.
Degree Level
Dissertation
Keyword(s)
Engineering, Civil
Language
eng
Abstract
A commercial humic acid and a fulvic acid extracted from peat were used to evaluate the removal of humic substances by various activated carbons. Different analytical methods were investigated to determine humic substances as possible indicators of chloroform formation potential. Total organic carbon measurement and ultraviolet/visible absorbance correlate well with the chloroform formation potential of humic substances. Evidence was found that pore size distribution was the most important physical characteristics of activated carbon for adsorption of humic substances. Pore volumes of activated carbon in pores between 100 and 500 (ANGSTROM) radius were correlated with adsorption capacity. A decrease of pH in solution, lower molecular weight fractions of humic substances, smaller carbon particles, and presence of soluble alum were found to increase the carbon adsorption. The chemical pretreatment with alum increased the absorption capacity of carbon almost threefold. This increase of adsorption capacity is probably because of the removal of weakly- or non-adsorbable humic substances by alum coagulation. The presence of soluble alum in the solution also enhances the adsorbability of humic substances. The application of a developed mathematical model to predict the performance of the carbon bed for the adsorption of humic substances was successful. Model parameter estimation techniques and model verification were evaluated and the applicability of the model was verified. In general, this model is sensitive to values of adsorption capacity of activated carbon and the surface diffusion coefficient of humic substances inside the adsorbent particle. The surface diffusion coefficient was also correlated with the adsorption capacity. The higher the adsorption capacity, the lower the diffusion coefficient. Based on the model predictions, the empty bed contact time of the carbon bed and the influent concentration were the two most important factors in designing a carbon bed for humic substance removal.
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