Abstract

Water treatment plants in the northern region of Egypt encounter significant pollution and contamination at their inlets, primarily due to the discharge of sewage and industrial waste originating from factories situated along the Nile River. Elevated levels of ammonia have been associated with a multitude of illnesses, some of which may result in unconsciousness or even death. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of different types of activated carbon for the removal of ammonia from water. The investigation involved the use of predetermined effective doses and specific varieties of activated carbon, the batch technique of jar tests, and the quantitative determination of ammonia concentration using ion chromatography. Various operating conditions were explored, including changes in raw water turbidity, ammonia concentration, and the application of activated carbon at varying doses. Four different types of activated carbon were used: P1SAC, P2JAC, G1JAC, P3AAC and P4IAC. Results showed that increasing the mass of activated carbon increased the removal of ammonia. A significant decrease in ammonia concentration was observed for doses ranging from 10 to 50 g/l, with a maximum reduction percent of 40%. However, for doses exceeding 50 g/l, a decrease in reduction percent was observed, ranging from 8% to 22%. The recorded maximum reduction percent was dependent on the type and dose of activated carbon being applied.