AWWA ACE70515

This powerpoint presentation begins by providing a brief overview of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) and pharmaceuticals/personal care products (PPCPs). Study objective was to examine whether molecular descriptors/properties are capable of predicting the breakthrough of a varied set of EDCs/PPCPs, and whether the same properties that are considered at ppm/ppb concentrations still relevant at ppt (part-per-trillion) levels. The research approach involved the following: rapid small scale column tests (RSSCTs) with activated carbons and water dosed with EDCs/PPCPs; measure effluent EDC/PPCP concentrations using liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry (SNWA); measure pore volume and slurry pH of test carbons; collect and/or calculate set of properties and structural descriptors for test compounds; and, normalize test data between carbons and test theoretically likely predictors (a<0.001) for correlation with test outcome. Presentation conclusions were that: adsorption at very low concentrations can often contradict intuition (e.g. Log Kow - reduced influence); even at ppt levels, pore volume and slurry pH are still deciding factors for an aqueous phase carbon's ability; and, one predictor can describe the adsorption of many different types of compounds, but may not describe all levels of breakthrough. Includes figures.