Adsorption of Natural Organic Matter on Preformed Aluminum Hydroxide Flocs

Abstract

Natural organic matter (NOM) was extracted from a raw water source (Forge Pond, Granby, Mass.) and fractionated into eight groups: fulvic acid, humic acid, hydrophilic acid, weak hydrophobic acids, hydrophilic neutrals, hydrophobic neutrals, hydrophilic bases, and hydrophobic bases. The extent of adsorption of these fractions on preformed aluminum hydroxide flocs was determined. Also, the adsorption affinities of various fractions were correlated to selected NOM properties, i.e., organic charge, molecular weight, and specific ultraviolet absorbance. The nature of the reactions leading to adsorption was discussed, along with the induced dissolution of aluminum from the floc surface and its resulting association with NOM in particulate or colloidal forms.