Adsorption of organic pollutants form effluents of a Kraft pulp mill on activated carbon and polymer resin

摘要

Adsorption of acidic bleach plant effluent on activated carbon and a polymer resin (polystyrene divinylbenzene copolymer) was studied at ambient conditions. The adsorption isotherms can be well described using the Freundlich equation. The pH of the wastewater solution influences significantly the adsorption capacity of activated carbon. The maximum adsorption capacity for total organic carbon (TOC) on both activated carbon and the selected resin was obtained at pH 2. The resin is more effective than activated carbon in color removal from pulp mill effluents. The TOC adsorption capacity of the resin can be fully restored by washing with sodium hydroxide solution. Other factors influencing the adsorption capacity are also discussed.