Removal of metals and organics in a chemical decontamination process solution: Laboratory and semi-pilot scale experiments

In this study the system of adsorbents and an oxygen source was considered in order to remove metal species and organic compounds existing in a chemical decontamination process solution. It was observed in the laboratory experiments that adsorption and degradation of metal species and organic compounds were dependent on the solution pH value. The results of the semi-pilot scale decontamination experiments showed that metal species were removed mostly by adsorption on the surface of the adsorbent, while organic compounds were degraded by the chemical oxidation of radical reaction in the presence of hydrogen peroxide. It was shown in the laboratory and the semi-pilot scale experiments that metal species and organic compounds could be removed by adsorption and chemical oxidation using an oxygen source (H2O2) with adsorbent (activated carbon) with high removal efficiencies.