Continuous Removal of Organic Micropollutants from Municipal Treated Effluents and Studying Kinetics of Removal of Methylene Blue as a Model Micropollutant Component in Batch and Continuous Flow Systems

This research investigates the effectiveness of granular activated carbon (GAC) in eradicating micropollutants (pharmaceuticals, dyes, pesticides....etc.) from treated effluents of municipal wastewater treatment plants. By using methylene blue as a model representative organic micropollutant, the study examines the mechanisms involved in its removal. Through batch experiments, the study demonstrates impressive removal efficiency; displaying an absorption capacity of 349.3 mg/g. Factors such as contact time, initial dye concentration and GAC particle size have an impact on the removal efficiency while pH levels (2-11) minimally affects the absorption process. The kinetics are analyzed utilizing Langmuir and Freundlich models. In continuous flow experiments, lab-scale GAC filters sustain remarkable removal efficiency for the target across various flow rates. The study also addresses scalability, revealing a reduction in removal percentages from 93.9% to 88.8% as flow rates increase from (1m3/h) to (5m3/h). These discoveries provide crucial insights into devising effective strategies to combat the potential dangers posed by micropollutants.