This monograph provides comprehensive coverage of technologies which integrate adsorption and biological processes in water and wastewater treatment. The authors provide both an introduction to the topic as well as a detailed discussion of theoretical and practical considerations. After a review of the basics involved in the chemistry, biology and technology of integrated adsorption and biological removal, they discuss the setup of pilot- and full-scale treatment facilities, covering powdered as well as granular activated carbon. They elucidate the factors that influence the successful operation of integrated systems. Their discussion on integrated systems expands from the effects of environmental to the removal of various pollutants, to regeneration of activated carbon, and to the analysis of such systems in mathematical terms. The authors conclude with a look at future needs for research and develoment. A truly valuable resource for environmental engineers, environmental and water chemists, as well as professionals working in water and wastewater treatment.

Among various water and wastewater treatment technologies, the adsorption process is considered better because of lower cost, simple design and easy operation. Activated carbon (a universal adsorbent) is generally used for the removal of diverse types of pollutants from water and wastewater. Research is now being directed towards the modification of carbon surfaces to enhance its adsorption potential towards specific pollutants. However, widespread use of commercial activated carbon is sometimes restricted especially in developing or poor countries due to its higher costs. Attempts are therefore being made to develop inexpensive adsorbents utilizing abundant natural materials, agricultural and industrial waste materials. Use of waste materials as low-cost adsorbents is attractive due to their contribution in the reduction of costs for waste disposal, therefore contributing to environmental protection. This e-book explores knowledge on recent developments in adsorbents synthesis and their use in water pollution control. This handy reference work is intended for researchers and scientists actively engaged in the study of adsorption and the development and application of efficient adsorption technology for water treatment. This e-book covers a wide range of topics including modeling aspects of adsorption process and the applications of conventional and non-conventional adsorbents in water remediation emphasizing sorption mechanisms of different pollutants on the adsorbents.

High surface area, a microporous structure, and a high degree of surface reactivity make activated carbons versatile adsorbents, particularly effective in the adsorption of organic and inorganic pollutants from aqueous solutions. Activated Carbon Adsorption introduces the parameters and mechanisms involved in the activated carbon adsorption

FROM THE INTRODUCTION Over the past decade, industrial water pollution control has undergone vast changes. Public Law 92-500 passed in 1972 primarily targeted conventional pollutants such as Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) and suspended solids and as a result wastewater treatment plants were designed to meet these objectives. In recent years volatile organics, priority pollutants, aquatic toxicity and some heavy metals have received attention in specific industrial effluents. In some cases nitrogen and phosphorus will have specific effluent limitations. If the wastewater contains volatile organics such as benzene or toluene, these organics must be removed prior to biological treatment or basins must be covered with off-gas treatment. The technology choice to meet these objectives in a cost-effective manner will be site specific. In 1976 EPA established effluent limitations for priority pollutants in the organic chemicals, plastics and synthetic fibre industries (OCPSF). These are pollutant specific guidelines expressed as an effluent concentration. Depending on the specific chemical involved, the biological treatment process or a source treatment technology may provide the most economical solution. Aquatic toxicity poses a major problem in industrial water pollution control. Because it is frequently non-specific it is difficult to identify appropriate cost effective technologies. As a general rule, biological treatment should be the first option with more costly physical chemical technologies employed only in cases where the toxicity-causing chemicals are non-biodegradable.