This project studies and compares the removal effectiveness of three ion-exchange resins and granular activated carbon (GAC) on aqueous solutions of sulfamethoxazole (SMX) at pH 5, 7, and 9. After treatment by adsorption, the final concentration of SMX was measured with a UV spectrophotometer. Evaluation of adsorbent effectiveness included the analysis of kinetics and equilibrium data. Results yielded that Filtrasorb 200, Marathon and Optipore worked most successfully due to chemical structuring and specific adsorption characteristics. Experiments also indicated that pH level did not significantly affect the adsorbent effectiveness.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Conoby, Kathryn Alaina
• Anness, Emily Graham

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-042913-094742

Advisor

• Bergendahl, John Andrew

Year

• 2013

Date created

• 2013-04-29

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Environmental Engineering

Rights statement

• In Copyright

Last modified

• 2021-01-28