Adsorption of Organic Stormwater Pollutants onto Activated Carbon from Sewage Sludge
Journal article, 2017

Adsorption filters have the potential to retain suspended pollutants physically, as well as attracting and chemically attaching dissolved compounds onto the adsorbent. This study investigated the adsorption of eight hydrophobic organic compounds (HOCs) frequently detected in stormwater e including four polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), two phthalates and two alkylphenols e onto activated carbon produced from domestic sewage sludge. Adsorption was studied using batch tests. Kinetic studies indicated that bulk adsorption of HOCs occurred within 10 min. Sludge-based activated carbon (SBAC) was as efficient as tested commercial carbons for adsorbing HOCs; adsorption capacities ranged from 70 to 2800 mg/g (Cinitial ΒΌ 10e300 mg/L; 15 mg SBAC in 150 mL solution; 24 h contact time) for each HOC. In the batch tests, the adsorption capacity was generally negatively correlated to the compounds' hydrophobicity (log Kow) and positively associated with decreasing molecule size, suggesting that molecular sieving limited adsorption. However, in repeated adsorption tests, where competition between HOCs was more likely to occur, adsorbed pollutant loads exhibited strong positive correlation with log Kow. Sewage sludge as a carbon source for activated carbon has great potential as a sustainable alternative for sludge waste management practices and production of a high-capacity adsorption material.

stormwater management

sludge-based activated carbon

organic contaminants

adsorption

Author

Karin Björklund

Chalmers, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Water Environment Technology

Loretta Y. Li

University of British Columbia (UBC)

Journal of Environmental Management

0301-4797 (ISSN) 1095-8630 (eISSN)

Vol. 197 490-497

Driving Forces

Sustainable development

Areas of Advance

Building Futures (2010-2018)

Subject Categories

Water Engineering

Environmental Sciences

DOI

10.1016/j.jenvman.2017.04.011

More information

Latest update

3/29/2018