Dissolved organic matter (DOM) removal from bio-treated coking wastewater using a new polymeric adsorbent modified with dimethylamino groups

In the current study a new recyclable aminated hyper-cross-linked polymeric adsorbent (A-HPA) was prepared for effective removal of DOM from BTCW. Possibly benefited from its unique structure of polystyrene matrix, sufficient aminated groups and high specific surface area, A-HPA could remove DOM from BTCW through the synergetic effect of π-π interactions, acid-base interactions and micropore filling, and exhibited the highest removal efficiency than the other adsorbents. Moreover, the exhausted A-HPA was amenable to effective regeneration by using acid and alkaline solution, allowing for repeated use with a constant removal efficiency. Field application of continuous 3-year fixed-bed runs demonstrated that A-HPA is capable of effectively removing DOM from BTCW with no significant capacity loss, and the treated effluent can be partially used as recycled water in production. All the above results demonstrated that A-HPA adsoption could serve as a good choice for the advanced treatment of bio-treated sewage effluent.