POST FILTRATION GAC CONTACTORS

Granular activated carbon (GAC) is commonly used in drinking water treatment to adsorb synthetic organic chemicals and natural organic compounds that cause taste and odor, color, and can react with chlorine to form disinfection byproducts (DBPs). Adsorption is both the physical and chemical process of accumulating a substance at the interface between liquid and solids phases. GAC is an effective adsorbent because it is a highly porous material and provides a large surface area to which contaminants may adsorb. can delay breakthrough and reduce the GAC replacement/regeneration frequency. Typical EBCTs for water treatment applications range between 5 to 20 minutes. Shorter EBCTs are likely to require much more frequent replacement or regeneration of the GAC media and the application is likely to become cost prohibitive. GAC is more effective for the removal of DBP precursors than DBPs themselves. As a result, when used for control of DBPs, facilities that utilize pre-chlorination are likely to discontinue that practice. This has the potential to impact removal of dissolved inorganic species, such as iron and manganese. The use of an alternative preoxidant, such as potassium permanganate can help to eliminate this concern. GAC will remove chlorine and chloramines. Therefore, it is necessary to consider the point of primary and secondary disinfectant application when adding GAC to assure the disinfection process is not compromised. Sloughing of bacteria can occur in biologically-active GAC filter adsorbers and post-filter GAC contactors. In systems using free chlorine for both primary and secondary disinfection there should be sufficient free chlorine contact time to inactivate any bacteria dislodged from the GAC media. In systems utilizing chloramines for secondary disinfection, it may be necessary to provide a minimum of 5 minutes of free chlorine contact time prior to ammonia addition. Depending on the economics, facilities may have on-site or off-site regeneration systems or may waste spent carbon and replace it with new. Spent GAC must be in accordance with state and federal laws. On-site regeneration will likely require the facility to acquire air permits. Post-filter GAC contactors are considered secondary filtration under the Long Term 2

Rapid Mix

Flocculation/ Filtration Sedimentation

GAC Filter

The two most common options for locating a GAC treatment unit in water treatment plants are: (1) post-filter adsorption, where the GAC unit is located after the conventional filtration process (as shown above); and (2) filter adsorbers, in which some or all of the filter media in a granular media filter is replaced with GAC. In post-filter applications, the GAC contactor receives the highest quality water and, thus, has as its only objective the removal of dissolved organic compounds. Backwashing of these adsorbers is usually unnecessary, unless excessive biological growth occurs. This option provides the most flexibility for handling GAC and for designing specific adsorption conditions. The empty bed contact time (EBCT) and the design flow rate define the size of and amount of carbon in a GAC contactor. The EBCT is a measure of the length of time in which water is in contact with the carbon. As the carbon adsorption sites are consumed, breakthrough occurs and the GAC needs to be regenerated or replaced. A longer EBCT

Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule. However, receiving a Cryptosporidium removal credit requires that 100 percent of the flow be treated by the GAC contactors.

Approximate capital and O&M costs for post-filter GAC adsorbers are provided in Table 1. Capital costs are based on a 20minute EBCT and 90-day regeneration frequency and include the addition of GAC contactors, initial load of carbon, associated piping and valves, and instrumentation and controls. O&M costs include spent GAC reactivation, power, replacement parts, and maintenance labor.
Table 1. Approximate Costs of GAC Adsorption Design Flow (mgd) Average Flow (mgd) Capital Cost ($/gal)
1 2

0.01 0.005 $5.00 $9.00

0.1 0.03 $1.50 $5.25

1.0 0.35 $1.25 $1.40

10 4.4 $0.75 $0.30

100 50 $0.40 $0.20

Annual O&M Cost ($/kgal)

1. Capital costs are based on $ per gallon of treatment plant capacity. For example, addition of GAC at a treatment facility with a capacity of 10,000 gpd would be expected to cost approximately $50,000 ($5.00/gal 10,000 gal = $50,000). 2. Annual O&M costs are based on $ per thousand gallons treated. For example, annual O&M costs for a system with an average daily flow of 5,000 gallons (5 kgal) would be approximately $16,425 ($9.00/kgal 5 kgal/day 365 days/year = $16,425).