Adsorption of Atrazine by Powdered Activated Carbon: Influence of Dissolved Organic and Mineral Matter of Natural Waters Adsorption de L'atrazine Par Charbon Actif en Poudre: Influence des Matieres Organiques et Minerales Dissoutes des Eaux Naturelles

Abstract

Contamination of the natural raw waters by pesticides requires the use of an activated carbon treatment in the municipal water treatment plant. One of the main factors affecting the efficiency of this process is the presence of natural organic and mineral dissolved material. This research studied the influence of this material on the atrazine adsorption. The experiments were carried out with four of the most used activated carbon in the water treatment plants and five waters, taken at different treatment stages. The results confirm the competition between the pesticide and the dissolved matter. They also show the complexity of the responsible interactions, which depend on the nature of the activated carbon, the nature and concentration of the organic and mineral matter, as well as the level of pesticide.