INORGANIC AND ORGANIC BY-PRODUCTS OF THE REACTIONS BETWEEN CHLORITE, ACTIVATED CARBON, AND PHENOLIC-COMPOUNDS

The effect of phenolic compounds (phenol and p-nitrophenol) on the rem oval of chlorite in aqueous solution (50 mg/L; pH = 7.2; 20-degrees-C) by filtration through granular activated carbon beds (3.0 g of CECA 4 0 activated carbon) was examined. No reaction between chlorite and phe nol or p-nitrophenol was observed in the absence of activated carbon. The presence of phenol or p-nitrophenol in solution or preadsorbed on carbon decreased the capacity of activated carbon to remove chlorite. High-performance liquid chromatography, total organic halogen, and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry analyses showed that many organic by products such as chlorophenols, p-benzoquinone, dimerization, and carb oxylation products were formed on the surface of activated carbon. A m echanism for the formation of inorganic byproducts [chloride (CI-); ch lorate (ClO3-)] and of organic byproducts is discussed.