The overall objective of this research was to compare the effectiveness of alternative adsorbents such as high-silica zeolites and carbonaceous resin to that of granular activated carbon (GAC) for the removal of methyl tertiary-butyl ether (MTBE) and emerging organic contaminants such as pharmaceutically active compounds and endocrine disrupting chemicals from drinking water sources. Apart from niche applications, in which the removal of a specific contaminant such as MTBE is targeted, alternative adsorbents such as high-silica zeolites and carbonaceous resin cannot compete with the effectiveness of activated carbon. Activated carbon will continue to be the most effective broad-spectrum adsorbent for the removal of organic contaminants from drinking water. Isotherm results obtained in this study showed that an activated carbon dose that might typically be added for taste and odor control (10 mg/L) is sufficient to achieve a 2-log removal of many emerging organic contaminants.

The overall objective of this research was to compare the effectiveness of alternative adsorbents such as high-silica zeolites and carbonaceous resin to that of granular activated carbon (GAC) for the removal of methyl tertiary-butyl ether (MTBE) and emerging organic contaminants such as pharmaceutically active compounds and endocrine disrupting chemicals from drinking water sources. Apart from niche applications, in which the removal of a specific contaminant such as MTBE is targeted, alternative adsorbents such as high-silica zeolites and carbonaceous resin cannot compete with the effectiveness of activated carbon. Activated carbon will continue to be the most effective broad-spectrum adsorbent for the removal of organic contaminants from drinking water. Isotherm results obtained in this study showed that an activated carbon dose that might typically be added for taste and odor control (10 mg/L) is sufficient to achieve a 2-log removal of many emerging organic contaminants.

The overall objective of this research was to compare the effectiveness of alternative adsorbents such as high-silica zeolites and carbonaceous resin to that of granular activated carbon (GAC) for the removal of methyl tertiary-butyl ether (MTBE) and emerging organic contaminants such as pharmaceutically active compounds and endocrine disrupting chemicals from drinking water sources. Apart from niche applications, in which the removal of a specific contaminant such as MTBE is targeted, alternative adsorbents such as high-silica zeolites and carbonaceous resin cannot compete with the effectiveness of activated carbon. Activated carbon will continue to be the most effective broad-spectrum adsorbent for the removal of organic contaminants from drinking water. Isotherm results obtained in this study showed that an activated carbon dose that might typically be added for taste and odor control (10 mg/L) is sufficient to achieve a 2-log removal of many emerging organic contaminants.