Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

Louisiana State University

EVEG 4120 Fall 2022
Design of Solid and Hazardous Waste Management Systems
Homework: Assignment #9 Due: Nov. 17, 2022

1. Based on problem 9-10 from the text (pg. 545)

200 mL of a solution with a p-xylene concentration of 500 mg/L is placed in each of six
containers with activated carbon and shaken for 24 hours at which time equilibrium was
achieved. The samples were filtered and the concentration of p-xylene measured, yielding the
following analyses:

Container 1 2 3 4 5 6
Activated Carbon (grams) 24.0 20.0 16.0 12.0 8.00 4.00
p-xylene (mg/L) 11.1 14.6 19.8 29.0 48.0 109

Determine the Freundlich constants, K and 1/n, and plot the isotherm. Use units of mg/g for
x/m and mg/L p-xylene for Ce.

2. A preliminary test was conducted to evaluate three types of activated carbon being considered
for use in a full-scale fixed-bed activated carbon adsorption system. Freundlich isotherm constants
were determined as shown below in the table below. In calculating these constants, the mass of
trichloroethene (TCE) adsorbed per mass of activated carbon (q) had units of mg/g and the TCE
concentration had units of mg/L.

Freundlich parameters, bulk density, and cost for various activated carbon types.
Carbon K 1/n Cost per kg of
ID activated
carbon
Type A 23.0 0.20 $3.50
Type B 4.60 0.60 $4.50
Type C 6.90 0.40 $5.20

A. What mass of TCE would be sorbed per unit mass of each type of activated carbon if the
concentration of TCE is 50 mg/L at equilibrium? Express your answer in units of mg/g.
B. Based on your answer to part A, which type of activated carbon would be the lowest cost
option to remove 1 kg of TCE if the concentration of TCE is 50 mg/L at equilibrium?

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3. Problem 9-12 from the text (pg. 545)
Provide a preliminary design of a carbon adsorption system for removal of 2,4,6
trichlorophenol from 250,000 gal/day of water. The following data is provided:
Bohart-Adams model: a=2.3 days/ft; b=-10 days in laboratory tests where trichlorophenol
concentration was reduced from 395 mg/L to 10 mg/L at a loading of 4.0 gal/(ft2min). The
height of the adsorption zone was determined to be 19.0 feet. In your solution, assume that
the 2,4,6 trichlorophenol concentration in the water to be treated by the full-scale system is
395 mg/L and the desired discharge concentration is 10 mg/L. Specifically, you should
specify the column size (diameter and height), number of columns, and daily carbon
utilization rate. Use the same surface loading rate for the full-scale design as was used in the
laboratory-scale testing.

4. The following breakthrough curves were determined for activated carbon treatment of a
wastewater with a flow rate of 3.65 L/min with an initial concentration of 500 mg/L toluene in
the influent. The pilot-scale column was 9.9 cm in diameter and 19 m in total length. The
squares represent data collected at a bed depth of 9.5 m, the diamonds represent data collected at
a bed depth of 14.2 m, and the circles represent data collected at a bed depth of 19.0 m.

1.1
1
0.9
0.8
0.7
0.6
C/Co

0.5
0.4
0.3
0.2
0.1
0
0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000

Time (hr)

a. Plot the appropriate bed depth service time (BDST) graph for this system and determine
both the height of the adsorption zone and the velocity of the adsorption zone.

b. Provide a preliminary design for a carbon adsorption system for removal of 500 mg/L of
toluene to a concentration of 50 mg/L. The wastewater flow rate for the full-scale system
will be 100,000 gallons per day. Use the same surface-loading rate as was used in the
laboratory experiment. Be sure to specify the number of columns, their dimensions, and
the frequency that they must be replaced.

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