title: Estimating organic micro-pollutant removal potential of activated carbons using UV absorption and carbon characteristics.
abstract: Eight commercially available powdered activated carbons (PAC) were examined regarding organic micro-pollutant (OMP) removal efficiencies in wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluent. PAC characteristic numbers such as B.E.T. surface, iodine number and nitrobenzene number were checked for their potential to predict the OMP removal of the PAC products. Furthermore, the PAC-induced removal of UV254 nm absorption (UVA254) in WWTP effluent was determined and also correlated with OMP removal. None of the PAC characteristic numbers can satisfactorily describe OMP removal and accordingly, these characteristics have little informative value on the reduction of OMP concentrations in WWTP effluent. In contrast, UVA254 removal and OMP removal correlate well for carbamazepine, diclofenac, and several iodinated x-ray contrast media. Also, UVA254 removal can roughly describe the average OMP removal of all measured OMP, and can accordingly predict PAC performance in OMP removal. We therefore suggest UVA254 as a handy indicator for the approximation of OMP removal in practical applications where direct OMP concentration quantification is not always available. In continuous operation of large-scale plants, this approach allows for the efficient adjustment of PAC dosing to UVA254, in order to ensure reliable OMP removal whilst minimizing PAC consumption.
authors.affiliation: Technische Universität Berlin, Chair of Water Quality Control, KF4, Straße des 17. Juni 135, 10623 Berlin, Germany. Electronic address: frederik.zietzschmann@tu-berlin.de.
authors.forename: Frederik
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zietzschmann
authors.affiliation: Technische Universität Berlin, Chair of Water Quality Control, KF4, Straße des 17. Juni 135, 10623 Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Altmann
authors.affiliation: Technische Universität Berlin, Office IZ-WIB, KF4, Straße des 17. Juni 135, 10623 Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Aki Sebastian
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Ruhl
authors.affiliation: Berliner Wasserbetriebe, Cicerostr. 24, 10709 Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Uwe
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Dünnbier
authors.affiliation: Berliner Wasserbetriebe, Cicerostr. 24, 10709 Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Ingvild
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Dommisch
authors.affiliation: Berliner Wasserbetriebe, Cicerostr. 24, 10709 Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sperlich
authors.affiliation: Technische Universität Berlin, Chair of Water Quality Control, KF4, Straße des 17. Juni 135, 10623 Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Felix
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Meinel
authors.affiliation: Technische Universität Berlin, Chair of Water Quality Control, KF4, Straße des 17. Juni 135, 10623 Berlin, Germany; Technische Universität Berlin, Office IZ-WIB, KF4, Straße des 17. Juni 135, 10623 Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jekel
mesh_terms: D002244:Carbon / Q000737:chemistry*; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000737:chemistry; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000737:chemistry*; D018508:Water Purification
chemical_list: D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D002244:Carbon
keywords: Activated carbon; Adsorption; Nitrobenzene number; Organic micro-pollutant; Trace organic compounds; UV absorption