Batch adsorption isotherm and column breakthrough studies were conducted to
compare two types of activated carbon with very different structural chara
cteristics; granular Calgon F-400 and an activated carbon fiber composite (
ACFC). Carbons were evaluated for Virus adsorption capacity using a bacteri
ophage, MS2. Two mesh fractions of each carbon type were used in batch adso
rption studies to determine empirical isotherm coefficients from linear reg
ression analysis. Freundlich isotherm models adequately described MS2 bacte
riophage adsorption to both carbon types. Adsorption capacity was found to
vary with carbon size for both types of carbon but for different reasons. A
lthough adsorption isotherm capacities would have predicted the GAC carbon
to provide better removals than the ACFC, carbon breakthrough column perfor
mance for equal weights of material showed virus removal to be markedly mor
e efficient on a gram-to-gram basis for ACFC than for GAG.