ADSORPTION

Presented by: Aleksa Grail Raneses

(Group 4)
What is ADSORPTION?

Adsorption is mass transfer process wherein a substance is

transferred from the liquid phase to the surface of a solid
where it is bound be chemical or physical forces.

Generally in water treatment, the adsorbent (solid) is

activated carbon, either granulated (GAC) or powdered (PAC).
Powdered Activated Carbon (PAC)
PAC is made from organic materials with high carbon
contents such as wood, lignite and coal. PAC typically
has a diameter less than 0.1 mm and an apparent
density ranging between 23 and 46 lb/ft3, depending
on the material used and manufacturing process.
Iodine and molasses numbers are typically used to
characterize PAC.

PAC is used by water treatment plants on either a full

time basis or as needed for taste and odor control or
removal of synthetic organic chemicals (SOC's).
PAC dosages can range between 1 to 50 mg/L depending on the
type and concentrations of organic compounds present. Yet, the
dose is generally 10 mg/L.

The advantage of PAC is that the capital equipment is relatively

inexpensive and it can be used on an as needed-basis. On the
other hand, the disadvantage is that
the adsorption is incomplete.
Granular Activated Carbon (GAC)

GAC is made from organic materials with high carbon

contents such as wood, lignite and coal. The primary
characteristic that differentiates GAC to PAC is its particle
size. GAC typically has a diameter ranging between 1.2 to
1.6 mm and an apparent density ranging between 25 and 31
lb/ft3), depending on the material used and manufacturing
process.
Generally, GAC is used for SOC removal either as a filter
media replacement or as a separate contractor.

If the GAC is designed to remove SOC from the periodic

spill into the source water, then filter media replacement
may be adequate since it is not being used for every day and
acting as a barrier.

However, if the GAC is to be used continuously for

SOC removal, then a separate contractor may be
warranted.
GAC has been proposed to
be used to remove
naturally occuring organic
matter that in return
would lead to reduce
formation of DBP's.
The GAC will typically last
90-120 days until it loses
its adsorptive capacity.
GAC has also been
considered in removing
THM's. However, the
capacity is very low and
carbon may only last up to
30 days.
Therefore, GAC is
considered to be not
practical in THM removal.
MEMBRANES
What is a MEMBRANE?

A membrane is a thin layer of material that is

capable of separating materials as a function
of their physical and chemical properties
when a driving force is applied across the
membrane.
Figure 1. Schematic representation of a
membrane process
The efficiency of a given membrane is determined by its selectivity
and the applied flow. The efficiency is called the flux and is defined
as the volume flowing through the membrane per unit area and time.
The selectivity of a membrane toward a mixture is expressed by its
retention or recovery, R, and is given by:

where Ff = contaminant conc. in feed

Cf = contaminant conc. in permeate
Membranes can be described by variety of
criteria including: (Jacangelo et. al, 1997)

- membrane pore size

- molecular weight cut off
- membrane material and geometry
- targeted materials to be removed
- type of water quality to be treated, and/or
- treated water quality
Brief description of various pressure driven
membrane process:

● Reverse Osmosis (RO) - employed for the removal of salts from

brackish water and seawater. It depends upon applying
pressures across membrane (in the range 1000-8000 kPa) in
order to overcome osmotic pressure differential between the
saline feed and product waters.

● Nano-filtration (NF) - also called membrane softening, lies

between RO and ultrafiltration. Employs 500-1000 kPa for
operation. Provides removal of ions contributing to hardness,
and is also effective for removal of color and DBP precursors.
● Ultrafiltration (UF) - cover a wide range of MWCO’s and pore
sizes. Operational pressures ranges from 70-700 kPa, depending
on the application. Tight UF membranes (MWCO=1000 daltons)
may be employed for removal of some organic materials from
freshwater, while loose UF membranes (MWCO>50000 daltons)
is primarily for solid/liquid separation, i.e., particle and icrobial
removal.

● Microfiltration (MF) - the pores of MF (=0.1 um or greater).