ABSORPTION of METALS
ALUMINUM Very effective in removing soluble aluminum. Adsorption influenced by pH and retention time. Best results at ph 7 or above.
ARSENIC Largely dependent upon form of arsenic (ie. AsIII or AsV). pH has considerable influence. At low pH almost no adsorption occurs. Affected by Protonation.
CADMIUM Bone char is better than conventional precipitation and/or coagulation processes. Superior results in soft water. Retention time on par with aluminum.
CHROMIUM Much dependent upon form present, ie. cation or anion, and valency (chrome III or chrome VI). Chrome III adsorbs well.
COPPER Adsorption dependent upon pH and retention time.
IRON Dependent upon form of iron. Better results with organic iron than with inorganic. Inorganic results dependent upon valency. Short retention times suffice.
LEAD Very effective with short retention time (ie. 1 minute or less)
MANGANESE Very effective. Pilot results good. Competition from other methods of oxidation.
MERCURY Best with organic mercury. Inorganic mercury is dependent upon valency (mercury I and II). Although similar, the higher charged monatomic mercury II has a greater affinity for Bone Char than mercury I.
NICKEL Adsorption best at higher pH. Requires high retention time. At 5 pH almost no adsorption.
SILVER Quite rapidly adsorbed. Better at low concentrations in solute. High deposits of silver on bone char inhibit adsorption. Adsorption better at pH 5.
ZINC Efficiency dictated by contact time and pH. Both pilot plant and full scale plant performance good.
ABSORPTION of NON-METALS
BROMINE Bone Char is effective in removing free bromine. Bromine form is important too. In presence of potassium and sodium adsorption decreases.
CHLORINE
CHLORAMINES
Bone Char is minimally effectively in reducing chlorine or chloramine.
COLOR Retention time required is usually about 6 – 15 minutes, dependent upon chemical make up of color. Can be used in slow sand, rapid gravity or pressure filters.
FLUORIDE Adsorption onto Bone Char is good, but influenced by pH – better at 6.5 or lower. Concentrations of fluoride present also influences performance. Activated carbons do not effectively adsorb fluoride.
PESTICIDES
Good at removing organo-chlorine pesticides (ie. Dieldrin, septachlor, etc.). not very good at atrazine, etc.