Geosmin and 2-methylisoborneol adsorption on super-powdered activated carbon in the presence of natural organic matter

Water Sci Technol. 2010;62(11):2664-8. doi: 10.2166/wst.2010.415.

Abstract

Geosmin and 2-methylisoborneol (2-MIB) are naturally occurring compounds responsible for musty-earthy-odors in surface water supplies. They are a severe problem confronting utilities worldwide. Adsorption by powdered activated carbon (PAC) is a widely used process to control this problem, but it has low efficiency, which engenders large budget spending for utilities services. Super-powdered activated carbon (S-PAC) is activated carbon with much finer particles than those of PAC. Experiments on geosmin and 2-MIB adsorptions on S-PAC and PAC were conducted. Geosmin and 2-MIB adsorption capacities on S-PAC were not smaller than those on PAC although natural organic matter, which adversely impacted the adsorption capacity of geosmin and 2-MIB, was more adsorbed on S-PAC than on PAC, meaning that the adsorption competition is less severe for S-PAC than for PAC.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adsorption
  • Camphanes / chemistry*
  • Cyclohexanes / chemistry*
  • Humic Substances / analysis*
  • Naphthols / chemistry*
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical / chemistry*
  • Water Purification / methods*

Substances

  • Camphanes
  • Cyclohexanes
  • Humic Substances
  • Naphthols
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical
  • 4-diphenylacetoxy-1,1-dimethylcyclohexane
  • 2-methylisoborneol
  • geosmin