Disinfection By-Product Precursor Adsorption as Function of GAC Properties: Case Study

Four different granular activated carbons (GACs) were tested at the bench scale for the adsorption of disinfection by-product (DBP) precursors and were found to be spent at different rates for the Lincoln (Nebraska) water system. This study examined the value of several physical and chemical tests for ranking the potential of different GACs for DBP precursor removal for one water utility. The surface area in the micro- and mesopore range and tannin adsorption were found to be useful indicators of DBP precursor adsorption potential. GACs with the largest surface in the 5  to  50  (ANGSTROM) porewidth range were able to treat the largest amount of water before being spent. A high value obtained in the tannin adsorption test was observed for the GACs that treated large water volumes.