Removal of Organic Substances, Nitrogen and Anion Surface Active Agent in Wastewater by the Bamboo Charcoal

Abstract

The application of bamboo charcoal as the water treatment material was investigated in this study. Surface functions on the surface of the bamboo charcoal were measured in laboratory experiment and the ratio of basic functional group was over 50% of the total functional groups on the bamboo charcoal surface. The bamboo charcoal was added into the artificial waste water containing organic substances, nitrogen and anionic surface active agent. After agitation for 4 hours, the concentrations of COD (chemical oxygen demand), T-N (total Nitrogen) and MBAS (methylene blue active substances) decreased to 83% and 63% and 30% of the initial concentrations, respectively. Adsorption isotherm of COD, T-N and MBAS fitted Freundlich formula. Two grams of bamboo charcoal were added to 1 L of actual wastewater and the actual wastewater was agitated once for a day. After 14 days, a reduction of 91% for COD, 54% for T-N and 100% for MBAS was observed.