Fenton-driven regeneration of MTBE-spent granular activated carbon—Effects of particle size and iron amendment procedures

Abstract

Fenton-driven regeneration of spent granular activated carbon (GAC) can be used to regenerate organic contaminant-spent GAC. In this study, the effects of GAC particle size (>2mm to <0.35mm) and acid pre-treatment of GAC on Fenton-driven oxidation of methyl-tert-butyl ether (MTBE)-spent GAC were evaluated. Iron (Fe) was amended to the GAC using two methods: (1) untreated—where GAC was amended with a concentrated solution of ferrous sulfate and (2) acid pre-treatment—where GAC was amended with acid followed by sequential applications of a dilute ferrous sulfate solution. Subsequently, MTBE was amended to the GAC, followed by oxidative treatments with H2O2. H2O2 reaction and MTBE oxidation were inversely correlated with GAC particle size and were attributed to shorter intraparticle diffusion transport distances for both H2O2 and MTBE. Image analysis of the GAC cross-sections (i.e., prepared thin sections) revealed that the Fe amended to the GAC extended to the center of the GAC particles. Fe accumulated at higher levels on the periphery of the untreated GAC but Fe dispersal was more uniform in the acid pre-treated GAC. In the acid pre-treated GAC, conditions for MTBE oxidation were favorable and greater levels of MTBE oxidation were measured for all particle size fractions tested. Modeling and critical analysis of H2O2 diffusive transport and reaction indicated limited H2O2 penetration into large GAC particles which contributed to a decline in MTBE removal. Residual MTBE remaining on the GAC limited the quantity of MTBE that could be re-adsorbed, but no reduction in MTBE sorption capacity resulted from oxidative treatments.