A SURFACE COMPLEX MODEL FOR ADSORPTION OF TRACE COMPONENTS FROM WASTE-WATER

A surface complex adsorption model is used to describe the results of batch equilibrium experiments investigating adsorption of hydrogen ion, chromate, phosphate, lead, and total organic carbon (TOC) onto activated alumina. These tests were conducted using domestic wastewater treated by the activated sludge process, and lime coagulation. Surface complex models describe adsorption as formation of surface somplexes between a component of the solid and the adsorbate in a manner analogous to formation of complexes in solution. The surface complex model applied to this work was able to adequately describe adsorption of the hydrogen, chromate, and phosphate ions onto alumina. However, the model did not adequately describe adsorption of lead and total organic carbon.

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