By Henry Nowicki, Bill Purves, Wayne Schuliger, George Nowicki and Barbara Sherman
Obtaining independent, unbiased third-party professional opinions are good in personal and business practices. There is hardly a day that goes by that we could not benefit from having an outside opinion on our personal and business issues and practices.
Personal issues include medical, financial and retirement amongst others. Professional issues that would benefit from third-party evaluations are numerous and also highly individualized depending on the industry. The best available technology to clean water and air, and a myriad of other applications, should also remain in focus.
Activated carbon certification
A company will buy an activated carbon and certify it with an independent third-party laboratory, thereby ensuring the level of quality so it works reliably in their adsorption or chemisorption process systems as expected. All activated carbons are not the same in their performance levels.
Selecting the best activated carbon and process can increase the process systems operational performance by two to three times. This results in less media change-outs. Different activated carbons have needed properties specific to their different applications.
For example, a sulfurized carbon material may be needed to maximize the removal of mercury from water and industrial air streams, but not necessary for municipal potable water plant operations. The performance of sulfurized carbon depends on its type, concentration, form, particle size and homogeneous or heterogeneous distribution.
Just as you may get a third-party evaluation regarding a proposed medical procedure, you may want a third-party evaluation on an activated carbon product or process equipment which you have or will purchase. With already installed equipment this is usually a trouble shooting and corrective-action task.
Even before you purchase media and equipment, getting benchmark inputs to your selection is wise. This will allow you to certify the quality of the carbon media for your intended use.
Laboratory testing services
The only way you can evaluate an incoming unused or reactivated carbon, or your carbon before and after it has been used, is to have it analyzed by a qualified laboratory. Table 1 contains a list of specific test methods that have been developed by the American Society for Testing Materials (ASTM) Committee D on activated carbon.
These activated carbon test methods provide a business relationship between buyer and seller. These well established test methods allow buyers to compare different vendor products and different lots of material purchased.
For most users, selecting the best test methods and outside labs is a daunting task. If possible the carbon user should have a full-time or part-time carbon specialist to help guide decisions on their process systems.
Advanced test methods
In addition to the standard test methods, advanced test methods have become available. Perhaps the best of the new test methods available is the Gravimetric Rapid Pore Size Distribution (GRPD) test method1, invented by Dr. Mick Greenbank. The GRPD is a modern test method which provides rapid and cost-effective information for aqueous and vapor trace organic removals.
A Greenbank developed off-shoot of GRPD technology is the emerging trace capacity test method2 based upon a vapor-phase sorbent challenge with tetrafluoromethane (TFM) (which was recently outlined in the June issue of WC&P.) GRPD uses 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane as the challenge gas.
TFM requires higher adsorption energy binding sites to capture it compared to TFE, which is easier for sorbents to capture. The TFM method is useful for sorbent developers designing new sorbents for adsorption of carbon dioxide, methane and other refractory compounds for which conventional commercial sorbents are not adequate to solve some pressing problems and possible opportunities.
Winning the business case for the advanced test methods requires patience and persistence. People do not understand the methods technology and its benefits to their business. Laboratory service providers need to explain testing results in a way that is useful to the client.
Test methods can ‘prove’ optimum cost per gallon of treated water, air, process liquids, etc. in real plant operating situations. This will mean dollars and cents in the pocket of the company using the activated carbon for treatment of their process streams.
The advanced test method GRPD enables activated users a way to determine the pores (adsorption specific spaces) needed for their application.3 This information is obtained by comparing the starting unused activated carbon with the used activated carbon GRPD runs. When an activated carbon user or their carbon supplier has obtained information about the needed pores, they are positioned to select the best available application.
To provide the needed level of understanding you have to be prepared to educate people and prove the business case
for them. This education process takes time. Table 2 contains a list of some advantages for using the GRPD as an aid in your activated carbon decisions.
Activated carbon school
Ideally activated carbon users would have sufficient knowledge to work effectively with the equipment and sorbent media suppliers. Typically, carbon users do not have a complete knowledge base to handle all possible issues.
Formal education and training on activated carbon adsorbers is hard to find, as you do not get it at the university. Professional sources within the industry, such as the Activated Carbon School, remain a best option.
Continuing education is an important tool to obtain third-party advice on professional operations. Having face-to-face discussions with knowledgeable individuals is a benefit of course attendance and participation.
Most conferences have short courses before and after the events. Adding a couple of days of training to your next conference to continue your education is cost effective.
Firms and individuals need the best knowledge, ideas and any possible alternatives to reduce the risk of making bad decisions. Establishing relationships with mentors has been found useful to obtain valuable third-party ideas to avoid making mistakes.
An important need for third-party evaluations often involve legal dispute or purchasing an external firm. In these situations a highly knowledgeable and unbiased expert helps to assure the best decision outcome is obtained.
Working with lawyers is a task with which scientists typically have little experience, especially in the role of an expert witness.4 Even when the plaintiff or defendant have staff capable of working with their legal representative, they often choose outside experts.
This is done to avoid bias and disruption of normal business. Lawyers, however, are demanding of an expert’s time, often having critical ‘drop-dead’ dates that require large amounts of time in only a few weeks.
References
- Nowicki, Henry and Greenbank, Mick. Advanced Instruments for Sorbent Adsorption and Desorption Evaluations. Presented at the 23rd Army Science Conference, Orlando, FL December 2-5, 2002.
- Greenbank, Mick. Using a Gas-Phase Test To Predict Liquid-Phase Activated Carbon Performance at Trace Concentrations. Presented at the 24th International Activated Carbon Conference, Pittsburgh, PA October 6, 2009.
- Nowicki, Henry; Nowicki, George; and Sherman, Barbara. “GRPD Comparisons of Unused and Used Granular Activated Carbons for Drinking Water Applications.” Water Conditioning & Purification, April 2009, pg 32-37.
- Nowicki, Henry and Sherman, Barbara. “So You Want To Be An Expert Witness.” Chemical Engineering, July 2005, pg 48-52.
About the authors
Henry Nowicki, Ph.D./M.B.A. is the President of PACS Inc. and has 39 years of environmental and activated carbon practical experience and consults for clients through PACS. He provides the “Activated Carbon Adsorption: Principles, Practices, Applications, and New Opportunities” course and runs a testing lab for the activated carbon industry. Nowicki thanks Professor Emeritus Dr. Milton Manes for some 20- plus years of enjoyable mentoring.
Wayne Schuliger, P.E., the Technical Director of PACS Inc., has 43 years of activated carbon experiences and provides consulting on activated carbon adsorber operation and design through PACS. He provides a short course titled “Design, Operation and Trouble Shooting Activated Carbon Adsorption Systems.” In addition to courses, Schuliger provides independent reviews and recommendations for operating and proposed capital equipment for adsorption process equipment.
Bill Purves, Ph.D. metals laboratory Director has 31 years of lab and process control experience with metals and consults through PACS. George Nowicki, B.S./B.A. is Lab Manager for PACS, has 12 years of varied activated carbon experience and advises clients on selecting activated carbon based on testing results. Barbara Sherman M.S. is Manager of operations for PACS for 25 years; she manages the day-to-day PACS business activities and practices.
All authors can be reached by e-mail: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], or by phone at (724) 457-6576.
About the company
Professional Analytical and Consulting Services Inc. (PACS) is celebrating its 25th year of incorporated business. PACS provides testing, R&D, training and consulting services. To view a typical GRPD report mentioned in this paper, see www.pacslabs.com.
If you are new to a subject it is a good idea to start with the glossary of words used in the industry. PACS has published a glossary of key words and provided a self-administered test to check your word usage and understanding of activated carbon vocabulary.
PACS will host the 24th International Activated Carbon Conference (IACC-24) and Courses program October 3-10 in Pittsburgh, PA. The IACC-24 technical program and registration form is available at www.pacslabs.com. PACS also has provided the Activated Carbon School to help provide the necessary training to aid activated carbon users. Please see the website: www.pacslabs.com for course descriptions and schedule.