Failure Analysis of Limestone and Anthracite Coal Filter Media in Adsorbing Fe2+ from the Simulation of Pre-ozonated Groundwater Using Breakthrough Curve

In this study, the performance of limestone and anthracite coal filter media in treating Fe 2+ adsorption from groundwater is evaluated. A breakthrough curve analysis is conducted to provide information on the prediction of operation life span and determine the break point and ineffective point of both filter media. The failure of both filter media as adsorbents can be measured through breakthrough curve analysis. Results show that limestone can receive Fe 2+ loading at a concentration of 0.43 mg/L for a longer time (210 h) than that of anthracite (10 h). The breakpoint of the limestone column (40 h) is longer than that of the anthracite column (0.5 h). The performance of the breakthrough curve of both filter media is evaluated using Thomas, Yoon–Nelson and Adam Bohart models. The experimental data of both filter media reveal that the Yoon–Nelson and Thomas models contribute higher r 2 to Fe removal than that of the Adam Bohart Model. Thus, the adsorption of Fe onto limestone and anthracite coal is influenced by interphase mass transfer and chemical reaction kinetics. Therefore, anthracite coal is not recommended as filter media because of its failure to function as a good filter medium and shorter life span than that of limestone.