Synthetic adsorbent versus GAC for TCE removal

Abstract

Results showed that the synthetic adsorbent studied is more efficient than GAC in removing trichloroethene from a groundwater—as well as being more resistant to fouling by natural organic matter.The performance of a synthetic adsorbent in removing trichloroethene (TCE) from a groundwater containing natural organic matter (NOM) was compared with that of granular activated carbon (GAC). Adsorption equilibrium, kinetic, and pilot‐plant experiments were used to compare the adsorbents. Adsorption isotherm studies showed that the synthetic adsorbent had three to four times more TCE capacity than GAC over a TCE concentration range of 10‐2,000 μg/L. When preexposed for 24 weeks to a groundwater containing NOM, the synthetic adsorbent showed an average 12 percent loss in capacity compared with the single‐solute isotherm performed on the virgin adsorbent; GAC showed an average 35 percent loss in its virgin capacity for a preexposed time of only 10 weeks. Rapid small‐scale column tests and model calculations predicted pilot‐plant effluent profiles for the synthetic adsorbent. The pilot‐plant data confirmed that the synthetic adsorbent is more efficient than GAC in removing TCE.