Adsorption of MBAS from wastewaters and secondary effluents

On the basis of adsorption behavior, there seems to be three groups of methylene blue active substances (MBAS) in wastewaters and secondary effluents. The first group is observed at low dosages of activated carbon, contains the bulk of the total MBAS, and is readily adsorbable. The second is noted at intermediate dosages, contains a small part of the total, and is poorly adsorbable. The third occurs at very high dosages, contains a small part, and is essentially nonadsorbable. Analysis by the Freundlich adsorption model indicates that organic materials in wastewaters and effluents exert a strong competitive effect on the adsorption of MBAS. When competitive effects are normalized, however, the MBAS in wastewaters are slightly more adsorbable than those in effluents.