ADSORPTION OF TRIHALOMETHANES ON ACTIVATED LIGNITE

10th International Multidisciplinary Scientific GeoConference - SGEM2010, www.sgem.org, SGEM2010 Conference Proceedings/ ISBN 10: 954-91818-1-2, June 20-26, 2010, Vol. 2, 379-386 pp

ABSTRACT

All materials which are rich in carbon content could be used after activation or
adsorption. These materials include coal, lignite, wood, Boone, coconut shells, nut
shells, rice husks, and various fruits seeds. Activated carbons obtained from these
materials are usually hard and dense. Therefore they could be used in water treatment
for long time without deterioration. Activated carbons used in controlling environmental
pollution should have high surface area and porosity. Activated carbon is obtained by
the process of carbonization fallowed by activation of the initially carbonaceous
material. The product of the carbonization process, i.e. of pyrolysis of the carbon
containing material, conducted in the absence of air and any chemicals, is a material
virtually inactive with regards to adsorption, with a specific surface area of several
m2/g. The aim of this work is to investigate Trihalomethanes adsorption capacity of the
natural lignite found around Konya. Activated carbon from Ermenek lignite were
produced using modified method. The combination of the factors, namely KOH dosage,
and the HCl washing enhanced significantly the sorbent activity. Removal of, %97 for
Chloroform , %97 for Bromodichloromethane , %98 for Dibromochloromethane, %98
for Bromoform were achived by the use of Ermenek activated carbon.

Keywords: Lignite, Trihalomethanes, activated carbon, Adsorption