Combined Use of Ozone and Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) in Potable Water Treatment; Effects on GAC Quality After Reactivation

Common processes in potable water treatment regarding dissolved organics removal (natural organic matter, NOM, and organic micropollutants, OMP) include oxidation techniques – like ozonation -and adsorption onto granular activated carbon (GAC). This paper deals with combined ozonation and GAC filtration. Effects on water quality are discussed: partial oxidation of dissolved organics by ozone, leading to changing adsorption behavior and enhanced biodegradation in GAC columns. Special emphasis is laid on long term effects of ozone on GAC quality after several thermal reactivations. Long term experience indicates that ozonation prior to GAC filtration, leading to moderate ozone concentrations in the GAC influent, does not influence GAC quality negatively, even after more than ten reactivation cycles.