Purification of watercontaminated by poly- andperfluorinated chemicals : Analysing the efficiency of the combinedtechniques ion exchange resin and rotating bedreactor

Abstract: Development and usage of poly-and perflourinated chemicals has increased considerablysince their discovery. They have since then polluted our environment and are exposed tohumans via drinking water and sea food amongst others. Regular waste water treatmentfacilities are not able to remove these chemicals despite their negative effect on humanhealth. I analysed the usability of ion exchange resin in a rotating bed reactor for removingpoly- and perflourinated chemicals from water. The capability of different resins to adsorbpoly- and perfluorinated chemicals was compared. These include Donau Carbon Epibon Y20x50; Purolite A592E and Purolite PFA694E as well as ECT2’s resin’s Sorbex regenerableand Sorbex LC4 non-regenerable. Kinetic studies were performed with ECt2’s Sorbexregenerable resin in a small scale and industrial scale version. The levels of poly- andperfluorinated chemicals left in the water after treatment was measured using liquidchromatography and mass spectrometry. The results showed that Sorbex ion exchange resinis the most effective adsorbent for treatment of industrial level volumes of water.