Virginia Tech
Surface Modification Of Exhausted Activated Carbon For The Enhanced Removal Of Per- And Polyfluoroalkyl Substances
Abstract
dc:description.abstractgeneralGranular activated carbon (GAC) is a treatment technology commonly used in drinking water treatment. Recently, a maximum contaminant limit (MCL) has been proposed for a group of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a class of chemicals that have been used in many consumer products and industrial applications. GAC is capable of the treatment of PFAS below the MCL, but in many water sources competing contaminants are present that are also removed by GAC, reducing the capacity for PFAS removal. This requires more frequent replacement of the carbon media and greatly increases the cost of the treatment. Surface modification can be performed to increase the removal capacity and specificity of the GAC, allowing more of its removal capacity to be used for PFAS. Surface modification is performed by coating the GAC in a chemical that is then immobilized on the carbon through electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions. As GAC and many micropollutants treated by GAC, including the regulated PFAS, are negative, performing surface modification using a positive chemical increases the removal capacity of the carbon. Bench-scale tests using fully exhausted carbon showed PFAS removal following up-flow and influent addition surface modification.
Degree
thesis:*- Name thesis:degree_name
- Master of Science
- Level thesis:degree_level
- masters
- Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
- Environmental Engineering
- Department dc:contributor.department
- Environmental Science and Engineering
- Grantor dc:publisher
- Virginia Tech
- Year dc:date.issued
- 2025
Author and committee
dc:creator, dc:contributor.*- Author dc:creator
-
- Waller, Christopher Alan Jr.
- Chairs dc:contributor.committeechair
-
- Widdowson, Mark A.
- Bott, Charles B.
- Committee member dc:contributor.committeemember
-
- Edwards, Marc A.
Subjects
dc:subject × 4Rights
dc:rights- Statement dc:rights
-
- In Copyright
- Licence dc:rights.uri
- Language dc:language.iso
- en
Identifiers
dc:identifier.*- Dc Identifier Other
- vt_gsexam:41854
- OAI identifier oai:identifier
- oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/124083