Removal of chemical contaminants from water to below USEPA MCL using fiber glass supported activated carbon filters.

Abstract

A new, low-cost fiber glass supported activated carbon (FGAC) filter has been prepared that displays enhanced adsorption characteristics for the removal of BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and p-xylene) from water to below maximum contaminant level (MCL) regulated by USEPA and two chemical warfare agent simulants (diisopropylmethyl phosphonate and 2-chloroethyl ethyl sulfide) to barely detectable levels. Breakthrough curves for both the FGAC filter and a commercially available granular activated carbon (GAC) filter containing equal weights of adsorbent show that the FGAC filter has greatly improved kinetics of adsorption over the GAC filter for all six chemical contaminants. Benzene breakthrough curves showed the FGAC filter effluent to contain less than one ppb as compared to several parts per million in the GAC filter effluent. This was 2 orders of magnitude better than the GAC and represents a major advance in generating good water quality for the military as well as the general public. The FGAC filter showed a much lower pressure drop and could be completely regenerated at least 6 times by heating to 190 degrees C under vacuum.