Application of a plug-flow column model to a biologically activated carbon pilot plant

The plug flow stationary solid phase column model provides a exact description of adsorption dynamics, considers external mass transfer, internal diffusion transport, intra-biofilm diffusion, and above all, spatial and temporal variation of biofilm thickness in adsorbers. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the applicability of the plug-flow stationary solid phase column model in the biological activated carbon pilot plant by investigating the breakthrough behavior of dissolved organic carbon. The breakthrough profile of dissolved organic carbon measured under the bed volume of 10,000 was 0.425. The predicted breakthrough curves by the plug flow stationary solid phase column model maintained a certain value of 0.45 according to the bed volume. Therefore, the plug-flow stationary solid phase column model provided a good accuracy for prediction of breakthrough profiles in the biological activated carbon pilot plant.