Abstract:
In this study, the performance of GAC adsorption and biofiltration systems
in treating biological treated sewage effluent (BTSE) was evaluated in terms of
organic removal efficiency, organic fractions, and molecular weight distribution
(MW) of organic matter (OM) removed. The GAC biofilter removed 23.5% and
61% of the hydrophobic fractions and hydrophilic fractions of OM in the BTSE
respectively. MW distribution studies of GAC filter and GAC adsorption revealed
the following: Hydrophobic fraction of the effluent showed a peak at 345 dalton
after GAC biofiltration and 256 dalton after GAC adsorption, whereas, with hydrophilic
fractions, peaks at 46,178 and 345 daltons were observed after GAC biofiltration
and peaks at 46,178 and 256 daltons after GAC adsorption. Transphilic fraction
showed the peaks at 12,783 dalton with GAC biofiltration, and 1,463 dalton with
GAC adsorption. The performance of the GAC biofilter was successfully mathematically
modelled.
