CHAPTER 3. ACTIVATED CARBON COLUMNS （第三章。）.pdf

CHAPTER 3. ACTIVATED CARBON COLUMNS PLANT DESIGN CHAPTER 3. ACTIVATED CARBON COLUMNS PLANT DESIGN Maybe, the first question that we have to ask ourselves is related to the decision of an adsoprtion process using activated carbon for the removal of micropollutants is efficient. The theory says that the adsorbability of an organic molecule increases with increasing molecular weight and decreasing solubility and polarity. This means that high molecular weight compounds with low solubility, such as most pesticides, are well adsorbed, so the first idea is plenty justified. In this design, some aspects were taken into account. 3.1. ACTIVATED CARBON CHOICE Firstly, it’s important to remember that activated carbon can be used in different forms, basically, as powdered or granular. GAC (granular activated carbon) is utilised in drinking water treatment by installing it in a fixed bed adsorber. Water is passed through the adsorber containing the activated carbon which adsorbs organic compounds, purifying the water, while PAC (powder activated carbon) is used in a totally different way. It’s added to water, mixed and then removed at the decantation or filtration stage. The aim of this experiment is to determine breakthrough behavior of micropollutants in activated carbon columns so the decision of using GAC instead of PAC is obvious. The next step is the selection of a granular activated carbon. Chemviron carbon was chosen due to it is usually used in Belgium water companies. There are a number of criteria that should be considered in this selection. GAC for this porpouse needs a pore structure to allow the adsorption of a wide range of organic micropollutants,