7 january, 2011

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PRIOMF projectPriority organic micropollutants filter

Delft

Marco CasolaDavid de Ridder

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IntroductionObjective

• Insight in removal mechanisms organic micropollutants in BGAC filter in waste water application

• Optimize performance of this filter based on this insight

Partners

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Introduction

Biodegradation

Adsorption

Synergy• Adsorption & slow release

micropollutants• Adsorption & slow release

nutrients• Filtering of larger NOM molecules

by biofilm• Broadening spectrum of

removable micropollutants

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Pharmaceutical selection

Bio degradatio

n

Adsorption

Dominant process

No removal

Both

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Carbon selection

• Microporous carbon (GCN1240; coconut, high activation)• emphasize adsorption

• Non-porous carbon (lightly-activated GCN1240)• Emphasize biodegradation

• Hydrophobic carbon • Improve adsorption (?)• Improve attachment biomass (?)

• Reference carbon (GAC1240)

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Bacterial strain selection

• Ammonia oxidizing bacteria (AOB)• Methanotrophs

• Both aspecific• Both aerobic• Will be pre-grown on carbon before

experiment

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Experiments

Lab – adsorption (all on fresh & pre-grown)• Hydrophobicity (HoI & TPD)• Equilibrium adsorption pharmaceuticals • Adsorption kinetics

Lab – biodegradation• AOB Biodegradation vs adsorption; blank/ref/micro/non-

porous

• Influence AOB quantity; AOB spike/NH4 dose/AOB inhibitor

• Efficacy methanotrophs; CH4 dose

• Effect attachment biofilm; hydrophobic carbon/referencepilot

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Pilot experiments

ReservoirFilter Mix

Dose μpolPositiveDisplacementPumps

Flo w

micro reference

Non porous

hydrophobicBlank

Waste

Optional

All columns (except blank); precultivated with AOB

Effluent sampling port

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Pilot experiments Fluidized bed!

• EBCT= 10 min• Q= 0.02 m3/min (333 ml/min)• Carbon diameter 0.5-1.7 mm (0.5/0.9/1.3/1.7)

• V= 27 - 4 m/h• EBCT highest in smallest fraction• Headloss (1.9 m, fluidized) = 0.73 m

• Biofilm more equally distributed over bed• No clogging / preferential flow / anaerobic

zone• Carbon abrasion (integrity, mass, effect bio)?• Positive effect abrasion on pore blockage?

3 cm

19

0

cm

7.5 cm

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Pilot experiments

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Results Lab experiments - adsorptionHeat of immersion

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Results Lab experiments - adsorptionHeat of immersion

± 0.5-2 mJ/m2

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Results Lab experiments - adsorptionHeat of immersionCarbon BET surface

(m2/g)Heat of Immersion (mJ/m2)

Ref; GAC1240 1050 22.8

Micro; GCN1240 1150 20.4

Micro GCN1240 extra activated

>1300 21.4 @ 1400 m2/g

Non porous; Cocochar, not activated

36 222.8

Non porous; Cocochar, lightly activated

240 30.5

What about the hydrophobic one?

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Questions?