Fenton-Driven Regeneration of MTBE-Spent Granular Activated
Carbon - Effects of Particle Size and Iron Amendment

Procedures

Abstract

Fenton-driven regeneration of spent granular activated carbon (GAC) can be used to regenerate organic
contaminant-spent GAC. In this stud)', researchers evaluated the effects of GAC particle size (greater than 2
millimeters [mm] to less than 0.35 mm) and acid pre-treatment of GAC on Fenton-driven oxidation of methyl tert-
butyl ether (MTBE)-spent GAC. Iron was amended to the GAC using two methods:

•	Untreated, where GAC was amended with a concentrated solution of ferrous sulfate

•	Acid pre-treatment, where GAC was amended with acid followed by sequential applications of a
dilute ferrous sulfate solution

Subsequently, MTBE was amended to the GAC, followed by oxidative treatments with hydrogen peroxide (H202).
H202 reaction and MTBE oxidation were inversely correlated with GAC particle size and were attributed to
shorter intra-particle diffusion transport distances for both H202 and MTBE. Image analysis of the GAC cross-
sections (i.e., prepared thin sections) revealed that the iron amended to the GAC extended to the center of the GAC
particles. Iron accumulated at higher levels on the periphery of the untreated GAC, but iron dispersal was more
uniform in the acid pre-treated GAC. In the acid pre-treated GAC, conditions for MTBE oxidation were favorable
and greater levels of MTBE oxidation were measured for all particle-size fractions tested. Modeling and critical
analysis of H202 diffusive transport and reaction indicated limited H202 penetration into large GAC particles,
which contributed to a decline in MTBE removal. Residual MTBE remaining on the GAC limited the quantity of
MTBE that could be re-adsorbed, but no reduction in MTBE sorption capacity resulted from oxidative treatments.

Products

Huling, S.G., E. Kan, and C. Wingo. (2009). "Fenton-Driven Regeneration of MTBE-Spent Granular Activated
Carbon - Effects of Particle Size and Iron Amendment Procedures ." J. Applied Catalysis B: Environmental, 89,
651-657.

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