Standard Practice for the Prediction of Contaminant Adsorption on GAC in Aqueous Systems Using Rapid Small-Scale Column Tests

Importancia y uso:

5.1 Granular activated carbon (GAC) is commonly used to remove contaminants from water. However if not used properly, GAC can not only be expensive but can at times be ineffective. The development of engineering data for the design of full-scale adsorbers often requires time-consuming and expensive pilot plant studies. This rapid standard practice has been developed to predict adsorption in large-scale adsorbers based upon results from small column testing. In contrast to pilot plant studies, the small-scale column test presented in this practice does not allow for a running evaluation of factors that may affect GAC performance over time. Such factors may include, for example, an increased removal of target compounds by bacterial colonizing GAC3 or long-term fouling of GAC caused by inorganic compounds or background organic matter.4 Nevertheless, this practice offers more relevant operational data than isotherm testing without the principal drawbacks of pilot plant studies, namely time and expense; and unlike pilot plant studies, small-scale studies can be performed in a laboratory using water sampled from a remote location.

5.2 This practice known as the rapid small-scale column test (RSSCT) uses empty bed contact time (EBCT) and hydraulic loading to describe the adsorption process. Mean carbon particle diameter is used to scale RSSCT results to predict the performance of a full-scale adsorber.

5.3 This practice can be used to compare the effectiveness of different activated carbons for the removal of contaminants from a common water stream.

Subcomité:

D28.02

Volúmen:

15.01

Número ICS:

71.040.30 (Chemical reagents), 71.100.80 (Chemicals for purification of water)

Palabras clave:

activated carbon; column testing; granular activated carbon; RSSCT;