• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.96-101
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• 2009

In this study, the effects of three different biological activated carbon (BAC) materials (each coal, coconut and wood based activated carbons), empty bed contact time (EBCT) and water temperature on the removal of sulfonamide 5 species in BAC filters were investigated. Experiments were conducted at three water temperatures (5, 15 and $25^{\circ}C$) and four EBCTs (5, 10, 15 and 20 min). The results indicated that coal based BAC retained more attached bacterial biomass on the surface of the activated carbon than the other BACs, increasing EBCT or increasing water temperature increased the sulfonamide 5 species removal in BAC columns. In the coal-based BAC columns, sulfachloropyridazine (SCP), sulfamethazine (SMT) and sulfathiazole (STZ) removal efficiencies were 30~80% and sulfadimethoxine (SDM), sulfamethoxazole (SMX) removal efficiencies were 18~70% for 5~20 min EBCT at $25^{\circ}C$. The kinetic analysis suggested a first-order reaction model for sulfonamide 5 species removal at various water temperatures (5~$25^{\circ}C$). The pseudo-first-order reaction rate constants and half-lives were also calculated for sulfonamide 5 species removal at 5~$25^{\circ}C$. The reaction rate and half-lives of sulfonamide 5 species ranging from 0.0094~0.0718 $min^{-1}$ and 9.7 to 73.7 min various water temperaturs and EBCTs in this study could be used to assist water utilities in designing and operating BAC filters for sulfonamide antibiotic compounds removal.