Acetaminophen and caffeine removal by MnOx(s) and GAC media in column experiments

The objective of this study was to investigate the application of manganese oxide [MnOx(s)] and granular activated carbon (GAC) media for the removal of caffeine and acetaminophen from water. Organic contaminants of emerging concern represent a developing issue due to their effects on human health and the environment. Manganese oxides are effective for water treatment because of their ability to mediate adsorption and oxidation–reduction reactions for many organic and inorganic constituents. Laboratory scale column experiments were performed using different combinations of commercial MnOx(s) and GAC for assessing the removal of caffeine and acetaminophen, and the subsequent release of soluble Mn due to the reductive dissolution of MnOx(s). The removal of acetaminophen was detected for all media combinations investigated. However, the removal of caffeine by adsorption only occurred in columns containing GAC media. There was no removal of caffeine in columns containing only MnOx(s) media. Manganese release occurred in columns containing MnOx(s) media, but concentrations were below the secondary drinking water standard of 50 μg L−1 set by the US Environmental Protection Agency. Soluble Mn released from a first process by MnOx(s) media column was removed through adsorption into the GAC media used in a second process. The results of this investigation are relevant for implementation of MnOx(s) and GAC media combinations as an effective treatment process to remove organic contaminants from water.