New paper published and other announcements
Our latest paper was recently posted online in the journal Water Science published by the American Water Works Association (AWWA):
Kearns, J. P., Kennedy, A. M., & Shimabuku, K. K. (2022). Models for predicting organic micropollutant breakthrough in carbon adsorbers based on water quality, adsorbate properties, and rapid small-scale column tests. AWWA Water Science, e1281. https://doi.org/10.1002/aws2.1281
You should be able to view the read-only article for personal use via this link.
For this paper we compiled a big database (the largest in existence, to our knowledge) of studies that reported data from small, rapid laboratory bench-top experiments paired with large pilot column experiments or full-sized treatment system monitoring studies using carbonaceous adsorbent (biochar and activated carbon).
It has been a longstanding challenge to get so-called “Rapid Small-Scale Column Tests” (RSSCTs) to accurately simulate removal of trace chemical pollutants in real-world treatment systems.
In this study, we used statistical methods to develop several equations that simulate chemical contaminant removal in real world systems using
(1) RSSCT data alone
(2) RSSCT data in combination with water quality measurements (e.g., the concentration of background dissolved organic matter) and/or physical-chemical properties of chemical pollutants of interest that relate to adsorption
(3) water quality and/or pollutant physical-chemical properties alone, in the absence of RSSCT data
This paper represents the next-to-last link in the chain for relating the literature database of biochar adsorption studies to the production of a practical toolkit for practitioners to design and operate biochar water treatment systems for control of harmful chemical water pollutants.
The final link in that chain we are working on now, which builds on the just-published study to identify an operation space for biochar water treatment considering a range of adsorbents, different background water chemistries, and a variety of chemical pollutants with special attention to “sentinel chemicals.”
As with the previous study, I wrote a “Cliff’s Notes” version for book project subscribers.
Which leads me to the second announcement: I have enabled a new Substack feature that allows for 7-day free trials of paid subscriber posts. I’m not sure if that works retroactively, but going forward new paid posts will be available for free for a week. So you can preview forthcoming content and decide if you’d like to sign up for a paid subscription.
Lastly, I’ve started a new Substack newsletter for the small regenerative farm project that my wife and I operate: Magpie Hollow Farm News. Check it out and sign up - it’s all totally free!
Thanks again for your interest in and support of this project!