Multiple contaminant removal using Fe-impregnated granular activated carbons

Granular activated carbons (GAC) were impregnated with iron oxide using two different techniques, the products characterized and tested for the removal of arsenic and TCE from water. It was found that the type of GAC and the iron impregnation method had a large affect on the arsenic capacity of the product. A direct impregnation method using ferric chloride, FeCl ₃, followed by treatment with sodium hydroxide produced a material with a low capacity compared to a second method which pretreated the GAC with an oxidant prior to iron impregnation. The capacity of the parent GAC and the Fe-GAC for trichloroethylene was similar for some of the Fe-GACs indicating that the iron impregnation process did not significantly block the organic adsorption sites on the carbon surface. This presentation will describe the iron impregnation techniques and present data on the performance of the media for arsenic removal from drinking water.