Title
Fast empirical lab method for performance projections of large-scale powdered activated carbon re-circulation plants
Author
Zietzschmann, F.E. (TU Delft Sanitary Engineering; Technical University of Berlin)
Dittmar, Stefan (Technical University of Berlin)
Splettstößer, Lydia (Technical University of Berlin)
Hunsicker, Jonas (Technical University of Berlin)
Dittmann, Daniel (Technical University of Berlin; Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing Berlin)
Meinel, Felix (Technical University of Berlin)
Rößler, Annette (University of Stuttgart)
Metzger, Steffen (University of Stuttgart)
Jekel, Martin (Technical University of Berlin)
Ruhl, Aki Sebastian (Technical University of Berlin; Umweltbundesamt Marienfelde)
Date
2019-01-01
Abstract
Powdered activated carbon (PAC) for organic micro-pollutant (OMP) removal can be applied effectively on wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluents by using re-circulation schemes, accumulating the PAC in the system. This technique is complex because several factors are unknown: (i) the PAC concentration in the system, (ii) specific and average contact times of PAC particles, and (iii) PAC particle loadings with target compounds/competing water constituents. Thus, performance projections (e.g. in the lab) are very challenging. We sampled large-scale PAC plants with PAC sludge re-circulation on eight different WWTPs. The PAC plant-induced OMP removals were notably different, even when considering PAC concentrations in proportion to background organic sum parameters. The variability is likely caused by differing PAC products, varying water composition, differently effective plant/re-circulation operation, and variable biodegradation. Plant PAC samples and parts of the PAC plant influent samples were used in laboratory tests, applying multiples (0.5, 1, 2, 4) of the respective large-scale “fresh” PAC doses, and several fixed contact times (0.5, 1, 2, 4, 48 h). The aim was to empirically identify suitable combinations of lab PAC dose (as multiples of the plant PAC dose) and contact time, which represent the PAC plant performances in removing OMPs (for specific OMPs at single locations, and for averages of different OMPs at all locations). E.g., for five well adsorbing, little biodegradable OMPs, plant performances can be projected by using a lab PAC dose of twice the respective full-scale PAC dose and 4 h lab contact time (standard deviation of 13 %-points).
Subject
Adsorption
Organic micro-pollutant
Powdered activated carbon
Powdered activated carbon recirculation
Trace organic contaminant
Wastewater treatment plant
To reference this document use:
http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:1f0bf8f4-5bc7-4330-87d9-15834b9d3c07
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2018.10.055
Embargo date
2019-10-18
ISSN
0045-6535
Source
Chemosphere, 215, 563-573
Part of collection
Institutional Repository
Document type
journal article
Rights
© 2019 F.E. Zietzschmann, Stefan Dittmar, Lydia Splettstößer, Jonas Hunsicker, Daniel Dittmann, Felix Meinel, Annette Rößler, Steffen Metzger, Martin Jekel, Aki Sebastian Ruhl