Activated carbon and soluble humic substances: Adsorption, desorption, and surface charge effects

Journal Article · Sun May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1994 · Journal of Colloid and Interface Science; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1006/jcis.1994.1188· OSTI ID:7038206

Newcombe, G ^[1]

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1. Australian Centre for Water Quality Research, Salisbury (Australia)

Dissolved humic substances occur naturally in most surface waters. Such material interferes with conventional water treatment processes and adsorbs on the surface of granular activated carbon (GAC), decreasing the effectiveness and life of GAC filters. An alkali treatment was investigated as a means of desorbing humic substances from the activated carbon surface and possibly increasing the bed life of the filters. A maximum of 60% removal was achieved using this method. Surface titrations were undertaken using activated carbon samples with adsorbed humic material before and after the alkali desorption treatment. It was found that the surface charge properties of the samples were not significantly altered by the treatment, and that the major influence on the surface properties was the concentration of the adsorbed humic material. The degree of ionization of the adsorbed material was found to be very strongly influenced by the surface concentration, and this effect was interpreted in terms of the orientation of the adsorbed molecules and the very strong electrostatic interaction between charged groups of the adsorbed material.

• OSTI ID: 7038206
• Journal Information: Journal of Colloid and Interface Science; (United States), Journal Name: Journal of Colloid and Interface Science; (United States) Vol. 164:2; ISSN 0021-9797; ISSN JCISA5
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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ACTIVATED CARBON
ADSORBENTS
ADSORPTION
CARBON
DESORPTION
ELEMENTS
FULVIC ACIDS
HUMIC ACIDS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
LIQUID WASTES
NONMETALS
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POTENTIALS
SORPTION
SORPTIVE PROPERTIES
SURFACE POTENTIAL
SURFACE PROPERTIES
WASTE WATER
WASTES
WATER
WATER TREATMENT