ADSORPTION

Separation process which concentrates molecules at a

contacting surface without undergoing a chemical
reaction
The liquid phase activated carbon adsorption process
involves two basic steps:-
 Adsorption: the waste stream contacts the carbon, which
selectively adsorbs the hazardous materials and allows the
purified stream to pass through.
 Disposition of contaminated or spent carbon: When the
carbon reaches its maximum capacity or when the effluent
is unacceptable for discharge, the carbon is removed from
the adsorber for disposal, destruction, or regeneration
APPLICATIONS:
- The emission of heavy metals during waste
incineration can be effectively reduced through the
practice of employing non-toxic sorbents.
- These sorbents can react with toxic metals at high
temperatures and create metal binding between them
by various physical and chemical mechanisms.
- After the adsorption process, the used sorbents,
which contain heavy metals, need to be desorbed to
reduce their potential environmental hazards or
provide reusable sorbents for economical aspect.
The characteristics to identify waste streams that are likely
considerate for carbon treatment :

Aqueous waste streams with organic solute concentrations

that are less than 15 percent
Waste streams in which the aggregate concentration of
high molecular weight nonvolatile organics is substantially
lower than the concentration of the volatile organics.
Waste streams in which suspended solids are less than 50
ppm if the stream is not prefiltered and less than 2.5
percent if prefiltered.
Waste streams in which oil and grease concentrations are
less than 10 ppm.
Waste streams in which the concentration of dissolved
inorganics is low (less than 100 ppm)
The factors that may limit the applicability and
effectiveness of these processes include:
Not applicable to sites having high levels of oily
substances.
Not practical where the content of the absorbable
hazardous substance is so high that very frequent
replacement of the absorbent unit is necessary.
Contaminated media often require treatment/disposal
as hazardous wastes, if they can't be regenerated.
Water-soluble compounds and small molecules are
not adsorbed well.
Costs of the process are high with high contaminant
concentration levels.