EVALUATION OF ACTIVATED CARBONS FOR REMOVAL OF MUSTY ODOR COMPOUNDS IN THE PRESENCE OF COMPETITIVE ORGANICS

Isotherm studies were conducted to evaluate the influence of pH and or ganics associated with algae on adsorption of the two musty odor compo unds, 2-methylisoborneol and geosmin by three types of activated carbo ns (wood activated carbon: WAC, coal activated carbon: CAC, coconut sh ells activated carbon: YAC). Within a wide range of pH values (4.0, 7. 0, 9.0), little influence on adsorption of the two musty odor compound s was observed. In the presence of organics, especially humic acids an d glycolic acid, removal capacity and adsorption intensity of 2-MIB we re significantly reduced comparing with those of geosmin in the three ACs. And the reduction magnitudes were greater in WAC and CAC than in YAC. However, little influence on those of geosmin was observed in all ACs. It was suggested that the organics such as glucose, mannose, esp ecially humic acids and glycolic acid competed for the adsorption site s with 2-MIB, while their competition were quite low with geosmin.