• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.235-248
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• 2014

The widespread occurrence of dissolved endocrine disrupting compounds(EDCs) and pharmaceutical active compounds(PhACs) in water sources is of concern due to their adverse effects. To remove these chemicals, adsorption of EDCs/PhACs on granular activated carbon(GAC) was investigated, and bisphenol A, carbamazepine, diclofenac, ibuprofen, and sulfamethoxazole were selected as commonly occurring EDCs/PhACs in the aquatic environment. Various adsorption isotherms were applied to evaluate compatability with each adsorption in the condition of single-solute. Removal difference between individual and competitive adsorption were investigated from the physicochemical properties of each adsorbate. Hydrophobicity interaction was the main adsorption mechanism in the single-solute adsorption with order of maximum adsorption capacity as bisphenol A > carbamazepine > sulfamethoxazole > diclofenac > ibuprofen, while both hydrophobicity and molecular size play significant roles in competitive adsorption. Adsorption kinetic was also controled by hydrophobicity of each adsorbate resulting in higher hydrophobicity allowed faster adsorption on available adsorption site on GAC. EDCs/PhACs adsorption on GAC was determined as an endothermic reaction resulting in better adsorption at higher temperature ($40^{\circ}C$) than lower temperature ($10^{\circ}C$).

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.349-357
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• 2007

Reports of endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs), pharmaceutically active compounds (PhACs), and personal care products (PCPs) have raised substantial concern in important potable drinking water quality issues. Our study investigates the removal of EDCs, PhACs, and PCPs of 10 compounds having different physico-chemical properties (e.g., molecular weight, and octanol-water partition coefficient ($K_{OW}$)) by nanofiltration (NF) membranes. The rejection of micropollutants by NF membranes ranged from 93.9% to 99.9% depending on solute characteristics. A batch adsorption experiments indicated that adsorption is an important mechanism for transport/removal of relatively hydrophobic compounds, and is related to the octanol-water partition coefficient values. The transport phenomenon associated with adsorption may also depend on solution water chemistry such as pH and ionic strength influencing the pKa value of compounds. In addition, it was visually seen that the retention was somewhat higher for the larger compounds based on their molecular weight. These results suggest that the NF membrane retains many organic compounds due to both hydrophobic adsorption and size exclusion mechanisms.