Insights into the Adsorption Performance of Emerging Contaminants on Granular Activated Carbon

Emerging contaminants are being detected at a high frequency, posing significant environmental and human health challenges. This study aimed to investigate the potential of using commercial granular activated carbon for adsorbing nine aqueous emerging contaminants (carbamazepine, phenacetin, pentoxifylline, norfloxacin, iprobenfos, isoprothiolane, metolachlor, tebuconazole, and hexaconazole). The adsorption study involved employing kinetic and isotherm models, using various concentrations of emerging contaminants and sorbents in a batch system. Additionally, the study explored the correlation between the characteristics of emerging contaminants and their adsorption values, which displayed a relatively linear relationship. While some previous papers have evaluated the performance of one or two substances, there is a lack of research on the adsorption mechanisms of all nine aqueous emerging contaminants. Therefore, the findings from this study on the adsorption potential of granular activated carbon can serve as a valuable foundation for further investigations into its effectiveness in adsorbing emerging contaminants.