Powdered activated carbon (PAC) is a promising agent for the adsorptive removal of organic micropollutants
(OMP) from wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluents. Reliable and predictive test
methods are required for the selection and for the quality control of PAC. In the present investigation,
a pragmatic test method using indicative target OMP and photometric analyses was developed. Eight
different PAC were compared according to the test method and according to removals of individual
OMP in WWTP effluent. The test method allowed identification of the PAC with the highest and the lowest
removals of benzotriazole and elucidated differences of the PAC with regard to removals of individual
OMP. In WWTP effluent both positive and negative correlations between OMP removals with different
PAC were observed: Some PAC removed diclofenac, carbamazepine and metoprolol to a comparatively
greater extent while other PAC are comparably more efficient for benzotriazole, methylbenzotriazole
and acesulfame adsorption.