• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.339-344
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• 2009

The authors investigated the bacterial community attached to granular activated carbon(GAC) particles and the susceptibility of the community to chlorine disinfection. The study was carried out at the G Water Treatment Plant in Seoul, which was in full-scale operation. Bacteria attached to the surface of GAC increased gradually with treatment from $0.4{\times}106{\sim}8.5{\times}106 CFU/g$. TOC removal was under 1.0 mg/L due to increased bacterial community on the surface of GAC. It was found that TOC removal was closely related with physical and biological parameters such as pore volume and the number of attached bacteria. When the washed and the attached cells were disinfected with 1.0mg/L of chlorine for 1 hour, the washed cells with chlorination could be controlled, but the number of the attached cells increased gradually. The results suggest a possibility that the treatment and disinfection barriers can be penetrated and pathogenic bacteria may break into the drinking water supplying system.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.323-328
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• 2008

During the full-scale water treatment operation at "G" Water Treatment Plant in Seoul, we investigated changes in pore volume distribution and specific surface area of GAC with time. The pore volume of the used GAC decreased to the level below 0.6 cc/g while that of the brand new GAC was ranged 0.7~0.9 cc/g. The specific surface area of GAC pores changed within the range between $1100{\sim}1200m^2/g$ and $700{\sim}800m^2/g$. Bacteria attached to the surface of GAC shows a gradual increase ($0.4{\time}10^6{\sim}8.5{\time}10^6CFU/g$) under scanninig electron microscope (SEM). TOC removal was enhanced due to growth of the attached bacteria on GAC. It was found that TOC removal was closely related with physical parameters (pore volume, specific surface area) linearly under the investigated conditions. The used GAC need to be exchanged into new one or re-generated to remove organic matters (TOC) effectively from the finished drinking water.