title: Adsorption characteristics of selected hydrophilic and hydrophobic micropollutants in water using activated carbon.
abstract: In this study, we investigated adsorption characteristics of nine selected micropollutants (six pharmaceuticals, two pesticides, and one endocrine disruptor) in water using an activated carbon. The effects of carbon dosage, contact time, pH, DOM (dissolved organic matter), and temperature on the adsorption removal of micropollutants were examined. Increasing carbon dosage and contact time enhanced the removal of micropollutants. Sorption coefficients of hydrophilic compounds (caffeine, acetaminophen, sulfamethoxazole, and sulfamethazine) fit a linear isotherm and hydrophobic compounds (naproxen, diclofenac, 2, 4-D, triclocarban, and atrazine) fit a Freundlich isotherm. The removal of hydrophobic pollutants and caffeine were independent of pH changes, but acetaminophen, sulfamethazine, and sulfamethoxazole were adsorbed by mainly electrostatic interaction with activated carbon and so were affected by pH. The decrease in adsorption removal in surface water samples was observed and this decrease was more significant for hydrophobic than hydrophilic compounds. The decline in the adsorption capacity in surface water samples is caused by the competitive inhibition of DOM with micropollutants onto activated carbon. Low temperature (5°C) also decreased the adsorption removal of micropollutants, and affected hydrophobic compounds more than hydrophilic compounds. The results obtained in this study can be applied to optimize the adsorption capacities of micropollutants using activated carbon in water treatment process.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Seung-Woo
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Nam
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Dae-Jin
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Department of Marine Science, College of Natural Science, Incheon National University, Incheon, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Seung-Kyu
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Environmental Sciences, Korea Army Academy at Young-Cheon, Young-Cheon, Gyeongbuk, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Namguk
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Her
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: zohkd@snu.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Kyung-Duk
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Zoh
mesh_terms: D015084:2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D000082:Acetaminophen / Q000737:chemistry; D000327:Adsorption; D001280:Atrazine / Q000737:chemistry; D002110:Caffeine / Q000737:chemistry; D002224:Carbanilides / Q000737:chemistry; D002244:Carbon / Q000737:chemistry*; D004008:Diclofenac / Q000737:chemistry; D052244:Endocrine Disruptors / Q000737:chemistry*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D009288:Naproxen / Q000737:chemistry; D010575:Pesticides / Q000737:chemistry*; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000737:chemistry*; D013418:Sulfamethazine / Q000737:chemistry; D013420:Sulfamethoxazole / Q000737:chemistry; D013696:Temperature; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000737:chemistry*; D018508:Water Purification
chemical_list: D002224:Carbanilides; D052244:Endocrine Disruptors; D010575:Pesticides; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D004008:Diclofenac; D015084:2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid; D000082:Acetaminophen; D002110:Caffeine; D013418:Sulfamethazine; D009288:Naproxen; D002244:Carbon; C009540:triclocarban; D013420:Sulfamethoxazole; D001280:Atrazine
keywords: Activated carbon; Dissolved organic matter; Freundlich isotherm; Hydrophobicity; Linear isotherm