Adsorption of low molecular weight algal organic matter onto activated carbon during water treatment

This diploma thesis deals with the study of adsorption of low-molecular components of organic substances produced by phytoplankton - AOM (Algal Organic Matter) on AC (Activated Carbon) during drinking water treatment. For the experimental purpose in this thesis, there were used selected amino acids as low molecular substances of AOM that are difficult to remove by conventional water treatment process by coagulation. As adsorbent, there was used a detailed characterized of granulated activated carbon (GAC) - Filtrasorb TL 830 (FTL830) which is intended directly for the purpose of water treatment. There were realizing the equilibrium batch adsorption experiments with three different model amino acids - arginine (Arg), phenylalanine (Phe) and aspartic acid (Asp). There was investigated the efficiency of removing amino acid depending on the solution temperature and pH. Results of the adsorption experiments have shown that the temperature affects the adsorption efficiency. Adsorption is essentially described as an exothermic process but the adsorption of Arg and Phe from an aqueous solution to GAC occurs more efficiently at higher temperatures. It means that the adsorption is the endothermic process. In the case of Arg adsorption, the temperature was found to influence adsorption efficiency less than..