title: Comparison between two forms of granular activated carbon for the removal of pharmaceuticals from different waters.
abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of two forms of basic granular activated carbon (GAC), mineral (pH = 10.5) and vegetal (pH = 9), for the removal of three pharmaceuticals, as sulphamethoxazole (SMX), diclofenac (DCF) and 17β-estradiol (E2), from two different matrices: fortified distilled (2.4-3.0 mg L(-1) and pH from 5.5 to 6.5) and natural (∼1.0 mg L(-1) and pH from 7.1 to 7.2) water in a bench scale. The Rapid Small-Scale Column Test used to assess the ability of mineral and vegetal GAC on removal of such pharmaceuticals led to removal capacities varying from 14.9 to 23.5 mg g(-1) for E2, from 23.7 to 24.2 mg g(-1) for DCF and from 20.5 to 20.6 mg g(-1) for SMX. Removal efficiencies of 71%, 88% and 74% for DCF, SMX and E2, respectively, were obtained at breakthrough point when using mineral GAC, whereas for the vegetal GAC the figures were 76%, 77% and 65%, respectively. The carbon usage rate at the breakthrough point varied from 11.9 to 14.5 L g(-1) for mineral GAC and from 8.8 to 14.8 L g(-1) for vegetal GAC. Mineral CAG also exhibited the best performance when treating fortified natural water, since nearly complete removal was observed for all contaminants in the column operated for 22 h at a carbon usage rate of 2.9 L g(-1).
authors.affiliation: a Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering , São Paulo State University (Unesp) , Ilha Solteira , SP , Brazil.
authors.forename: Lisandra
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lima
authors.affiliation: b Department of Chemistry, Institute of Exact and Biological Sciences , Federal University of Ouro Preto (UFOP) , Ouro Preto , MG , Brazil.
authors.forename: Bruno E L
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Baêta
authors.affiliation: b Department of Chemistry, Institute of Exact and Biological Sciences , Federal University of Ouro Preto (UFOP) , Ouro Preto , MG , Brazil.
authors.forename: Diego R S
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Lima
authors.affiliation: b Department of Chemistry, Institute of Exact and Biological Sciences , Federal University of Ouro Preto (UFOP) , Ouro Preto , MG , Brazil.
authors.forename: Robson J C F
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Afonso
authors.affiliation: b Department of Chemistry, Institute of Exact and Biological Sciences , Federal University of Ouro Preto (UFOP) , Ouro Preto , MG , Brazil.
authors.forename: Sérgio F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: de Aquino
authors.affiliation: c Department of Hydraulic Engineering and Water Resources, Faculty of Engineering , Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG) , Belo Horizonte , MG , Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcelo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Libânio
mesh_terms: D000327:Adsorption; D002606:Charcoal / Q000737:chemistry*; D004008:Diclofenac / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D052244:Endocrine Disruptors / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004867:Equipment Design; D004958:Estradiol / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D013420:Sulfamethoxazole / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014867:Water / Q000032:analysis; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D018508:Water Purification / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D014881:Water Supply
chemical_list: D052244:Endocrine Disruptors; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D014867:Water; D004008:Diclofenac; D002606:Charcoal; D004958:Estradiol; D013420:Sulfamethoxazole
keywords: Pharmaceuticals; adsorption; endocrine-disrupting compounds; granular activated carbon; water treatment