Abstract
In this study, GAC adsorption, ozonation and $O_3/GAC$ hybrid processes were investigated for treatment of humic acid. The degradation characteristics and efficiencies of humic acid in each process were evaluated through pH variation, $UV_{254}$ decrease, DOC removal, change of molecular size distribution and by-products formation. DOC removal rate in $O_3/GAC$ hybrid process (80%) was higher than arithmetic sum of ozonation (38%) and GAC adsorption process (19%) by synergism. $UV_{254}$ decrease rate of humic acid was also the highest than any other processes when treated in $O_3/GAC$ hybrid process. Molecular size distribution was not significantly changed in the GAC adsorption process. Main distribution of molecular size of humic acid was converted from 3 k~30 kDa into 0.5 k~3 kDa in ozonation. But the most of large molecular sizes of humic acid converted into small molecules(smaller than 0.5 kDa) in $O_3/GAC$ hybrid process. Quantities of formaldehyde and glyoxal formed in $O_3/GAC$ hybrid process were less than the ones in ozonation.