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Removal of acetaminophen and naproxen by combined coagulation and adsorption using biochar: influence of combined sewer overflow components

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Abstract

The combined coagulation and adsorption of targeted acetaminophen and naproxen using activated biochar and aluminum sulfate were studied under various synthetic “combined sewer overflow” (CSO) conditions. The biochar demonstrated better adsorption performance for both acetaminophen and naproxen (removal, 94.1 and 97.7 %, respectively) than that of commercially available powdered activated carbon (removal, 81.6 and 94.1 %, respectively) due to superior carbonaceous structure and surface properties examined by nuclear magnetic resonance analysis. The adsorption of naproxen was more favorable, occupying active adsorption sites on the adsorbents by naproxen due to its higher adsorption affinity compared to acetaminophen. Three classified CSO components (i.e., representing hydrophobic organics, hydrophilic organics, and inorganics) played different roles in the adsorption of both adsorbates, resulted in inhibition by humic acid complexation or metal ligands and negative electrostatic repulsion under adsorption and coagulation combined system. Adsorption alone with biochar was determined to be the most effective adsorptive condition for the removal of both acetaminophen and naproxen under various CSO conditions, while both coagulation alone and combined adsorption and coagulation failed to remove the acetaminophen and naproxen adequately due to an increase in ionic strength in the presence of spiked aluminum species derived from the coagulant.

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Acknowledgments

This research was financially supported by the Korea Ministry of Environment, “Project, 414-111-006.”

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, 29208, USA

    Chanil Jung & Yeomin Yoon

  2. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Chung-Ang University, 84 Heukseok-ro, Dongjak-gu, Seoul, 156-756, South Korea

    Jeill Oh

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  1. Chanil Jung
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Correspondence to Yeomin Yoon.

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Responsible editor: Bingcai Pan

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Jung, C., Oh, J. & Yoon, Y. Removal of acetaminophen and naproxen by combined coagulation and adsorption using biochar: influence of combined sewer overflow components. Environ Sci Pollut Res 22, 10058–10069 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-015-4191-6

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