Humic acid as a model for natural organic matter (NOM) in the removal of odorants from water by cyclodextrin polyurethanes

Current practices in some water-treatment facilities have reported that natural organic matter (NOM) blocks the adsorption sites of activated carbon resulting in lower geosmin and 2-methylisoborneol (2-MIB) removal. Humic acid has been reported to compete with geosmin and 2-MIB removal in the same w...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Water S. A. 2009-01, Vol.35 (1), p.117-120
Main Authors: Sithole, S.P., Nkambule, T.I., Mamba, B.B., Krause, R.W., Malefetse, T.J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
2-methylisoborneol (2-MIB)
Acids
Activated carbon
Cyclodextrin polymers
Cyclodextrins
Drinking water
Geosmin
Humic acids
Municipalities
Odorants
Odours
Organic matter
Pollutants
Polymers
Polyurethane resins
Spectrum analysis
Water pollution
Water resources
Water supply
Water treatment
Water treatment plants
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Summary:Current practices in some water-treatment facilities have reported that natural organic matter (NOM) blocks the adsorption sites of activated carbon resulting in lower geosmin and 2-methylisoborneol (2-MIB) removal. Humic acid has been reported to compete with geosmin and 2-MIB removal in the same way. The removal of odour chemicals such as geosmin and 2-MIB is important for potable-water treatment by water supply companies and municipalities. We have previously demonstrated that cyclodextrin polyurethanes are capable of removing a number of organic pollutants from water, but are not able to reduce the levels of NOM significantly. We wished to determine if the polymers would selectively remove geosmin and 2-MIB, despite the presence of NOM. Humic acid was chosen as a model for NOM since NOM constitutes about 70% of humic acid. Results obtained from this study indicate that the presence of humic acids at different concentrations could not affect the removal of geosmin and 2-MIB when cyclodextrin polymers were used since 90% removal was achieved. However the UV-Vis analysis showed a low removal of humic acids (3 to 20%).
ISSN:0378-4738