Microcystin-LR removal by ion exchange: Investigating multicomponent interactions in natural waters

Microcystin-LR (MCLR) is the most commonly encountered toxic microcystin variant. MCLR is usually present along with common surface water constituents such as inorganic ions and natural organic matter (NOM) which compete with MCLR for active sites during ion exchange (IX) process. Consequently, development of a multicomponent competitive model is essential for practical IX applications. This is critically important given that the NOM characteristics (charge density and molecular weight distribution) and inorganic ions concentrations are spatially variable and can change seasonally. In the present study, a systematic study was carried out into the multicomponent interactions of IX resin with inorganic ions and NOM during the MCLR removal process. This involved evaluation of MCLR removal in a single component system (i.e., MCLR only), a dual component system (MCLR and one other contaminant such as NOM), and a multiple component system (MCLR with NOM and different inorganic ions present in natural waters). A comprehensive understanding of the dynamic adsorption behavior showed that the experimental data for single component systems agree well with a Freundlich isotherm. For multicomponent interactions, the Equivalent Background Concentration (EBC) model which is derived from the Ideal Adsorption Solution Theory (IAST) provided the best correlation with the experimental data in natural waters. The concentrations of competing NOM and inorganic ions estimated by the EBC model were <10% of their initial concentrations. Sulphates are the most competitive inorganic ions followed by nitrates and bicarbonates and the multicomponent interactions could be well predicted by using the IAST-EBC model. However, the EBC model failed in the presence of higher molecular weight Suwannee River Humic Acid (SRHA) molecules due to neglecting of the pore blocking phenomenon. In the presence of higher molecular weight SRHA molecules, the Redlich-Peterson Isotherm (RP) model exhibited a better performance than the Sheindorf–Rebuhn–Sheintuch (SRS) and the EBC models.