ADSORPTION OF ORGANICS FROM A TRUE IN-SITU OIL SHALE RETORT WATER ON ACTIVATED CARBON IN PACKED BEDS

The adsorption of a true in-situ oil shale retort water on activated carbon at 278 and 298 K was studied in batch experiments and in packed beds with continuous liquid flow. The isotherms were nonlinear over the liquid concentration 0 to 875 mg/1. Breakthrough curves were obtained in packed bed experiments as a function of bed length, particle size, and liquid velocity. A differential approach was used to calculate the mass transfer coefficients and the rates of adsorption. Also the breakthrough curves were analyzed to establish the relative importance of the various individual mechanisms that contributed to the overall adsorption process.