Adsorption Behavior and Removal of Organic Materials from TNT Red Water by Lignite Activated Carbon

Red water produced by manufacturing of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) is treated by lignite activated carbon (LAC) which is much cheaper than common activated carbon. Optimized conditions for adsorption were determined and experimental results suggested pH, initial concentration, time, and adsorbent dose effect adsorption. The adsorption process follows a pseudo-second-order kinetics model controlled by pore diffusion and an adsorption isotherm may be fitted using the Langmuir model. Most organic components in red water are adsorbed by hydrogen bonds between the LAC and organic materials. Results suggest LAC is an alternative for treatment of red water.