New approaches to the simulation and optimisation of adsorption processes

Abstract

A new adsorption procedure showed that adsorption competition can be successfully influenced in favour of organic micropollutants by generating variable velocity fields and thus reducing the adsorption of competing harmless natural organic matter (NOM). A satisfying optimisation of the method can effectively be done with the help of a mathematical model. The model to be developed had to meet two main targets: firstly, it had to be able to simulate the adsorption processes under hydraulic conditions that change with time and space, and secondly, the implementation of the carbon fouling effect had to be improved. First results showed that the calculated breakthrough curves agreed to experimental data. However, batch experiment results indicated that the assumption of adsorption reversibility is only valid for some substances, which is important to consider when modelling competitive adsorption. An improved adsorption analysis method that integrates kinetic behaviour of NOM is expected to give evidence about NOM's carbon fouling properties.