The analysis of melamine and the removal efficiencies in the advanced oxidation process (AOP) and granular activated carbon (GAC) processes

Melamine is an important organic chemical and is widely used in industry. So, outflow of melamine into the environment has increased. However, research on melamine has been limited to research on food. In this study, to measure the concentration of melamine present in the environment, melamine and its by-products, Ammeline, Ammelide and Cyanuric acid, were simultaneously analyzed using gas chromatography time of flight. Also, for the removal of melamine and its by-products, the removal efficiencies were investigated via absorption experiments using the granular activated carbon (GAC) process and advanced oxidation process (AOP). Looking at the removal by each substance at ozone concentration, 10 mg/L Cyanuric acid was approximately examined using ozone and ozone/peroxide as advanced treatment processes. The concentration of ozone was from the minimum of 0.5 mg/L to the maximum of 10 mg/L and the degree of removal was checked by making the concentrations of 11 kinds react with each other for 20 min. The highest efficiency was shown at 0.5 mg/L of peroxide dose when the concentration of ozone is 0.5 mg/L and good efficiency was shown at 1 mg/L of peroxide dose when the concentration of ozone is 2 mg/L. At last, the best efficiency was shown at 2 mg/L of peroxide dose when the concentration of ozone is 5 mg/L. In the process of using ozone and peroxide, the best efficiency was shown when the ratio of ozone and peroxide is 1:0.5. And, if GAC process is added to the latter part of AOP process, melamine and by-products which are present in water can be removed more effectively.