Removal of bromide and bromate from drinking water using granular activated carbon

Granular activated carbon (GAC) was used to remove bromide (Br ) and bromate (BrO3) from drinking water in both bench- and pilot-scale experiments. The present study aims to minimize BrO3- formation and eliminate BrO3- generated during the ozonation of drinking water, particularly in packaged drinking water. Results show that the Br and BrO3 levels in GAC-treated water decreased in both bench- and pilot-scale experiments. In the bench-scale experiments, when the empty bed contact time (EBCT) was 5 min, the highest reduction rates of Br- in the mineral and ultrapure water were found to be 74.9% and 91.2%, respectively, and those of BrO3 were 94.4% and 98.8%, respectively. The GAC capacity for Br- and BrO3- removal increased with the increase in EBCT. Reduction efficiency was better in ultrapure water than in mineral water. In the pilot-scale experiments, the minimum reduction rates of Br and BrO3 were 38.5% and 73.2%, respectively.