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Performance Characteristics of Biological Activated Carbon Adsorption and Filtration in Removing Microparticulates and Natural Organic Matters from River Water
Summary
Researchers found that a special water filter using activated carbon (like charcoal) can remove up to 94% of microplastics and other contaminants from river water that regular filtration systems often miss. The catch: running water through the filter too slowly for too long causes it to clog, so treatment plants need to find the right balance between cleaning the water thoroughly and keeping the system running smoothly. This matters because it points to a practical way to reduce microplastics and other pollutants in the water we drink, which is increasingly showing up in rivers that supply our tap water.
Decentralized water treatment systems that rely on coagulation-sedimentation and rapid sand filtration without granular activated carbon are generally ineffective at removing micropollutants―particularly microplastics (MPs)―and natural organic matter (NOM). Increasing concentrations of MPs and NOM in river water complicate drinking-water treatment by impairing process control and optimization, while also elevating coagulant demand and required disinfectant doses. This study evaluated the performance of biological activated carbon (BAC) filtration for removing MPs and NOM in an advanced treatment train, using empty bed contact times (EBCTs) ranging from 8 to 16 minutes. BAC filtration achieved high removal efficiencies for NOM (85-89% for DOC, 2-MIB, and geosmin) and particulates (85-94%). However, headloss development in the BAC bed increased substantially at EBCTs longer than 16 minutes―approximately 2-3 times higher than at EBCTs below 10 minutes. These results indicate that the combined adsorption and filtration processes in BAC promote pore clogging due to effective particulate and NOM removal, highlighting the need to balance treatment performance with hydraulic sustainability.