Trace element distributions of a granular activated carbon

✍ Scribed by Katherine T. Alben; I.S. Jacobs

• Book ID: 102993987
• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 1986
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 1006 KB
• Volume: 24
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0008-6223
• DOI: 10.1016/0008-6223(86)90114-4

✦ Synopsis

Elemental distributions obtained by energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) analysis, combined with scanning electron microscopy @EM), are presented for used and virgin samples of a commercial granular activated carbon (GAC) Calgon F400 manufactured from bituminous coal. Distributions of Al, Si, K and Fe reveal the presence of large inclusions of a clay mineral such as illite, approximately IO-360 pm in diameter. We also find mineral inclusions of Fe alone, about 6-80 pm in diameter. The elemental distributions for S are diffuse and do not indicate the presence of iron sulfide compounds, although pyrite is the major iron mineral in bituminous coal feedstocks used for Calgon F400. The Mossbauer spectrum of Calgon F400 confirms the presence of iron oxides and iron metal, as probable products of pyrite during manufacture of the GAC. In samples of F400 used for potable water purification, Cl and Ca are characterized by diffuse distributions; results of quantitative EDXRF analysis indicate these elements are associated with com~unds adsorbed from water on the surface of Caigon F400.