The reduction of bromate in drinking water by activated carbon

The reduction of bromate at trace concentrations in drinking water has been studied. Both granular activated carbon and powdered activated carbon have been used to reduce bromate. Solution characteristics which influenced the reduction of bromate during this study include solution pH, initial bromate concentration, ionic strength of the solution, the presence of organic compounds, the dissolved oxygen content of the solution, and the type of activated carbon used.An existing model, originally developed to describe the reduction of free chlorine by granular activated carbon, has been used to describe bromate reduction by activated carbon. Both finite batch tests and packed bed column studies were conducted to test and verify the model predictions. The model generally describes bromate reduction well in distilled water. Tests conducted in natural water samples demonstrated the limitations of the model in describing the competitive effects of natural organic matter.Powdered activated carbon (PAC) was applied in an alternative process: the Haberer process. Bromate was reduced well by powdered carbon in the supported bed configuration. Natural organic matter also had an effect on bromate reduction in the Haberer process. Calculated capacities for bromate reduction by powdered activated carbon in the Haberer process were greater than previously reported PAC capacities.U of I OnlyETDs are only available to UIUC Users without author permissio