Source water purification of bamboo activated carbon prepared from bamboo charcoal by using the multi-layer filtration method

Bamboo charcoal (BC) was used as a precursor to prepare bamboo activated carbon (BAC) by the method of steam activation with at 700, 800 and 900°C of activation temperatures and 60,90 and 150min of activation duration, respectively. Using the standing, filtration and lab-designed multi-layer filtration methods, the feasibility of source water purification was investigated herein. The yield of BAC was 58.02 to 90.59%. The iodine value (362-891 mg/g) of BAC was higher than that (277mg/g) of BC. After treatment by the standing and the filtration methods, except for turbidity and total bacterial count, the other tested items could reach drinking water quality standards. The lab-designed multi-layer filtration method designated with filter paper, BC, BAC and filter paper as the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th filter-layer individually located in the glass funnel with 5 ± 2 and 10 ± 2 mL/min of flow rate to purify the source water. The turbidity, total hardness, nitrite nitrogen, coliform, and total bacterial count of the treated water resulted in 1.30 NTU, 89.02 mg/L, 0.05 mg/L, O.OOCFU/mL and 26.00 CFUAnL, and reached drinking water quality standards in Taiwan. In the Ames tests, the residual bacteria rate of the cytotoxicity for source water and the treated water was higher than 80% of the control, indicating a lack of cytotoxicity. The mutagenicity of both was not over spontaneous revertants of the control group by more than two times, signifying no mutagenicity. The BAC offers the potential development of water quality purification, and with the multi-layer filtration method has the consulted value of purification from source water.