In-place regeneration of granular activated carbon using fenton's reagents

C. L. De Las Casas, K. G. Bishop, L. M. Bercik, M. Johnson, M. Potzler, W. P. Ela, A. E. Sáez, S. G. Huling, R. G. Arnold

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

8 Scopus citations

Abstract

The feasibility of using Fenton's reagents for in-place recovery of spent granular activated carbon (GAC) was investigated. Fenton's reagents were cycled through spent GAC to degrade sorbed chlorinated hydrocarbons. Little carbon adsorption capacity was lost in the process. Seven chlorinated compounds were tested to determine compound-specific effectiveness for GAC regeneration. The contaminant with the weakest adsorption characteristics, methylene chloride, was 89% lost from the carbon surface during a 14-hour regeneration period. Results suggest that intraparticle mass transport limits carbon recovery kinetics, as opposed to the rate of oxidation of the target contaminants. Fenton-dependent recovery of GAC was also evaluated at a field site at which GAC was used to separate tetrachloroethylene (PCE) and trichloroethylene (TCE) from contaminated soil vapors. In the field, up to 95% of the sorbed TCE was removed from GAC during regeneration periods of 50-60 hours. Recovery of PCE was significantly slower. Although the process was not proven to be cost effective relative to thermal regeneration or carbon replacement, straightforward design and operational changes can lower process costs significantly.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationRemediation of Hazardous Waste in the Subsurface Bridging Flask and Field
EditorsClayton Clark II, Angela Stephenson Lindner
Pages43-65
Number of pages23
StatePublished - 2006

Publication series

NameACS Symposium Series
Volume940
ISSN (Print)0097-6156

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Chemistry(all)
  • Chemical Engineering(all)

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'In-place regeneration of granular activated carbon using fenton's reagents'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this