Removal of organic compounds by a biofilm supported on GAC: modelling of batch and column data

The performance of a biofilm of Arthrobacter viscosus supported on granular activated carbon on the retention of organic compounds was evaluated. The presence of functional groups on the cell wall surface of the biomass that may interact with the organic compounds was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, to assess the applicability of this system to the removal of those compounds. The batch assays showed that the removal percentage decreases with the increasing initial concentration. The removal of phenol ranged from 99.5 to 93.4%, the chlorophenol removal ranged from 99.3 to 61.6% and the o-cresol removal ranged from 98.7 to 73.5%, for initial concentrations between 100 and 1,700 mg/L. The batch data were described by Freundlich, Langmuir, Redlich–Peterson, Dubinin-Radushkevich, Sips and Toth model isotherms and the best fit for the retention of phenol and for the retention of o-cresol was obtained with the Sips model, while for chlorophenol, the best fit was obtained with the Freundlich model. The column tests showed that the retention performance followed the order: phenol > chlorophenol > o-cresol, and increased with the increasing initial organic compound concentration. Data from column runs were described by Adams–Bohart, Wolborska and Yoon and Nelson models with good fitting for all the models.