Analysis of the effect of the operational conditions in a combined adsorption–ozonation process with granular activated carbon for the treatment of phenol wastewater

This work proposes a mathematical model as a basis for studying the combined adsorption–ozonation process (Ad/Ox) with the complexity involved in a three-phase system. The description of this operation involves several parameters that describe the system kinetics and adsorption phenomena. This paper analyses the Ad/Ox process compared with simple ozonation, investigating the benefits of activated carbon (AC) in ozonation, primary degradation and mineralization of phenol solutions. This study focuses on Ad/Ox with granular activated carbon (GAC) and analyses how the phenol degradation kinetics depend on the amount of AC. Thus, a priority order of relevance is established for the proposed mathematical model parameters. For example, the adsorption kinetic constant may vary meaningfully within the same process. Finally, this paper studies the GAC behaviour after a given number of cycles, followed by the regeneration process. The calculated kinetic coefficients relating to the liquid and solid media explain the changes in process efficiency.