The adsorption experiment of phenol(Ph) from aqueous solution on granular activated carbon was studied in order to design the fixed-bed adsorption column. The experimental data were analyzed by unsteady-state, one-dimensional heterogeneous model. Finite element method(FEM) was applied to analyze the sensitivity of parameter and to predict the fixed-bed adsorption column performance on operation variable changes. The prediction model showed similar effect to mass transfer and intraparticle diffusion coefficient changes suggesting that both parameter present mass transfer rate limits for GAC-phenol system. The Freundlich constants had a greater effect than kinetic parameters for the performance of fixedbed adsorption column. FEM solution facilitated prediction of concentration history in solution and within adsorbent particle.

Aqueous phase adsorption of phenols by granular activated carbon was studied in a batch adsorption vessel. Adsorption isotherms of phenol(Ph), p-chlorophenol(PCP) and p-nitrophenol (PNP) from aqueous solution on granular activated carbon have been obtained. The experimental data were analyzed by the surface and pore diffusion models. Both models could be applied to predict the adsorption phenomena. However, the pore diffusion model was slightly better than the surface diffusion model in representing the experimental data for the initial concentration changes. Therefore, the pore diffusion model was used to predict the change of operating variables such as the agitation speed and particle size of adsorbent which have influence on the film resistance and intraparticle diffusion.