Adsorption of organic pollutants from effluents of a Kraft pulp mill on activated carbon and polymer resin

Adsorption of acidic bleach plant effluent on activated carbon and a polyme r resin (polystyrene divinylbenzene copolymer) was studied at ambient condi tions. The adsorption isotherms can be well described using the Freundlich equation. The pH of the wastewater solution influences significantly the ad sorption capacity of activated carbon. The maximum adsorption capacity for total organic carbon (TOC) on both activated carbon and the selected resin was obtained at pH 2. The resin is more effective than activated carbon in color removal from pulp mill effluents. The TOC adsorption capacity of the resin can be fully restored by washing with sodium hydroxide solution. Othe r factors influencing the adsorption capacity are also discussed. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.