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Dual role of activated carbon process for water reuse
Author(s) -
Kuo JihFen,
Stahl James F.,
Chen ChingLin,
Bohlier Paul V.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
water environment research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.356
H-Index - 73
eISSN - 1554-7531
pISSN - 1061-4303
DOI - 10.2175/106143098x127008
Subject(s) - activated carbon , environmental engineering , environmental science , reuse , waste management , wastewater , pulp and paper industry , carbon fibers , chemistry , adsorption , engineering , materials science , organic chemistry , composite number , composite material
Four granular activated carbon (GAC) filters went into service in 1977 at the County Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County's Pomona Water Reclamation Plant to treat 0.44 m 3 /s (10 mgd) of wastewater for reuse. This article provides long‐term operational information for similar water reuse applications.
The GAC filters successfully served dual roles as tertiary filters and adsorbers of organics. After 10 regenerations with an average 10% makeup of virgin carbon per regeneration, the iodine number dropped from 1 000 mg/g to a leveled‐off value of 600 mg/g; the molasses number increased from 170 to 250; apparent density decreased slightly; and mean particle diameter decreased from 1.65 mm to 1.2 mm. The ash content increased steadily from the initial 6.5% to more than 15% after 15 regenerations. After 20 regenerations, the GAC filters still exerted a total organic carbon removal from more than 80% initially to a level of 20%. The removal of true color by the regenerated carbon decreased from 90% initially to 30%. With the provisions of an after‐burner and a wet Venturi scrubber, the air emissions from the carbon regeneration facility were effectively controlled. The energy and labor costs become the dominant operation and maintenance costs as the regeneration frequency increases.