Activated carbon adsorption of humic substances

Activated carbon pore-size distribution is an important parameter relative to the carbon's capacity for adsorbing humic substances. The effect of coagulation on adsorption should also be examined wherever granular activated carbon is to be used following coagulation. Experimental investigations using a commercial humic acid and a fulvic acid extracted from peat, and a number of commercial activated carbons, several of which were coal-based, are reported.