Removing of fulvic acids by zonation and biological active carbon filtration

It was studied the effect of the content of biodegradable organic carbon (BDOC) after the processes of aeration and ozonation of the fulvic acid (FA) solutions on the efficiency of its adsorption and biofiltration. It was found that the change of free energy of adsorption of the FA oxidation products correlated with the part of biodegradable organic carbon in total organic carbon content. Predicting the effectiveness of NOM solutions ozonation before filtration through BAC is more appropriate by determining the value of the free adsorption energy. It was established that ozonation of FA solutions with high initial BDOC content by ozone doses that are economically and technologically acceptable, leads to a decrease in the BDOC value. Ozonation of FA solutions leads to equalization of the adsorption ability of FA fractions and increases the adsorption energy of FA in most investigated systems with a high initial BDOC content. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.