Granular Activated Carbon and Biological Activated Carbon Treatment of Dissolved and Sorbed Polychlorinated Biphenyls

The most widely practiced treatment method for polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in aqueous wastes is activated carbon adsorption. However, the presence of particulates in aqueous wastes may affect treatment processes primarily designed to treat dissolved PCBs because PCBs tend to partition strongly to solid surfaces. In this research, bench‐scale studies were conducted to investigate the performance of granular activated carbon (GAC) and biological activated carbon (BAC) processes for treating aqueous wastes containing dissolved and sorbed PCBs. When all influent PCBs were dissolved, influent PCBs of approximately 175 μg/L were removed to approximately 0.2 μg/L in the BAC column, compared to approximately 0.8 μg/L in the GAC column. A reduction in the extent of PCB removal was observed for both GAC and BAC processes when 10 mg/L of 0.5μm polystyrene particles were added to the influent. In the presence of influent particulates, PCB removal was significantly better in the BAC column and equaled 99% compared to 62% in the GAC column. Performance differences between the GAC and BAC columns were attributed to higher particulate capture efficiency of the biological film covering the activated carbon in the BAC column. Biological activated carbon columns thus seem to offer advantages to conventional GAC processes for aqueous wastes containing either dissolved or sorbed PCBs.

[1]  Joshua R. Smith,et al.  Dissolved PCB congener distribution in generator column solutions , 1998 .

[2]  R. Niessner,et al.  Degradation of PCDD, PCDF, PAH, PCB and chlorinated phenols during the destruction-treatment of landfill seepage water in laboratory model reactor (UV, ozone, and UV/ozone) , 1995 .

[3]  E. Blackburn,et al.  Inoculation of granular activated carbon in a fixed bed with S-triazine-degrading bacteria as a water treatment process , 1995 .

[4]  J. Lester,et al.  Behaviour and fate of polychlorinated biphenyls in a pilot wastewater treatment plant , 1994 .

[5]  D. Sedlak,et al.  The effect of sorption on the oxidation of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) by hydroxyl radical , 1994 .

[6]  Jiamin Wan,et al.  Colloid transport in unsaturated porous media , 1994 .

[7]  J. Pignatello,et al.  Degradation of PCBs by ferric ion, hydrogen peroxide and UV light , 1994 .

[8]  M. Harkness,et al.  Application of a permeant/polymer diffusional model to the desorption of polychlorinated biphenyls from Hudson River sediments. , 1994, Environmental science & technology.

[9]  Bruce E. Rittmann,et al.  The significance of biofilms in porous media , 1993 .

[10]  M. Corapcioglu,et al.  Colloid‐facilitated groundwater contaminant transport , 1993 .

[11]  P. Stewart,et al.  Interactions of 1 μm latex particles with pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms , 1993 .

[12]  T. Holsen,et al.  Characteristics and environmental significance of colloids in landfill leachate , 1993 .

[13]  Walter J. Weber,et al.  Effects of background dissolved organic matter on TCE adsorption by GAC , 1992 .

[14]  A. Weber,et al.  Aerobic biological activated carbon (BAC) treatment of a phenolic wastewater , 1992 .

[15]  S. H. Kim,et al.  Evaluating GAC Adsorbers for the Removal of PCBs and Toxaphene , 1992 .

[16]  B. Rittmann,et al.  Effect of biofilm accumulation on colloid cohesion , 1991 .

[17]  W. Weber,et al.  An Engineered Reactor Approach to Integrating Physicochemical and Biological Processes for In-Situ Bioremediation of Contaminated Subsurface Systems , 1991 .

[18]  R. Scott Summers,et al.  PREDICTING GAC PERFORMANCE WITH RAPID SMALL-SCALE COLUMN TESTS , 1991 .

[19]  S. Vigneswaran,et al.  Experimental investigation of size distribution of suspended particles in granular bed filtration , 1990 .

[20]  R. Summers,et al.  The Influence of Background Organic Matter on GAC Adsorption , 1989 .

[21]  J. McCarthy,et al.  Subsurface transport of contaminants , 1989 .

[22]  F. Gobas,et al.  Aqueous Solubility of Polychlorinated Biphenyls Related to Molecular Structure , 1988 .

[23]  J. F. Brown,et al.  Extensive degradation of Aroclors and environmentally transformed polychlorinated biphenyls by Alcaligenes eutrophus H850 , 1987, Applied and environmental microbiology.

[24]  B. Rittmann,et al.  Biofilm loss during sample preparation for scanning electron microscopy , 1986 .

[25]  M. Badawy,et al.  PCB removal by conventional water treatment: Effect of chemical coagulation and chlorination , 1986, Bulletin of environmental contamination and toxicology.

[26]  D. Bedard,et al.  Rapid assay for screening and characterizing microorganisms for the ability to degrade polychlorinated biphenyls , 1986, Applied and environmental microbiology.

[27]  Yadu B. Tewari,et al.  AQUEOUS SOLUBILITIES, OCTANOL WATER PARTITION-COEFFICIENTS, AND ENTROPIES OF MELTING OF CHLORINATED BENZENES AND BIPHENYLS , 1984 .

[28]  D. D. Di Toro,et al.  Reversible and resistant components of PCB adsorption-desorption: isotherms. , 1982, Environmental science & technology.

[29]  E. Chian,et al.  Degradation of polychlorinated biphenyls by mixed microbial cultures , 1979, Applied and environmental microbiology.

[30]  W. Weber,et al.  Biological growth on activated carbon: an investigation by scanning electron microscopy , 1978 .

[31]  Charles R. O'Melia,et al.  Water and waste water filtration. Concepts and applications , 1971 .