Removal of the Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals Nonylphenol from Water by Activated carbon

Nonylphenol(NP) have endocrine disrupting effects and exist generally in drinking water source. Physical properties including surface area, average pore-diameter, and micro-pore volume and chemical structure of the activated carbon was characterized by N-2 adsorption experiment and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Pore volume could be the most important for adsorption. The high O content of carbon surface lead a negative effect to absorption capacity and low pH value, low temperature lead a positive effect to adsorption. The effect of humus in water to the removal was also studied and EDCs-humus bi-component adsorption model was established, it was found that there is strong competition between EDCs and humus. Due to the competition adsorption capacity of NP greatly decreased especially when the concentration of NP is very low. The adsorption kinetics test results indicated that the adsorption of NP followed the first-order kinetics and the smaller diameter GAC could increase adsorption velocity.