Benzene in Water

The chemical Benzene, is a byproduct of petroleum refining, is used as an intermediate in the production of synthesized plastics, and an additive in gasoline. Gasoline contains approximately 0.8 percent benzene by volume. Benzene in water is classified as a volatile organic chemical (VOC) and is considered a carcinogen by the US EPA. Benzene finds it way into drinking water and water supplies from leaking fuel tanks, industrial chemical waste, pharmaceutical industry waste, or from run off of pesticides. The current US EPA Benzene MCL is 0.005 mg/l, and over this amount could mean you have benzene water contamination.

Benzene Water Treatment - Benzene can be removed from drinking water with activated carbon water filters. Approximately 1000 gallons of water containing benzene ppb of 570 can be treated with 0.35 lbs of activated carbon, in other words; 94,300 gallons of Benzene water can be treated for every cubic foot of carbon. The benzene must be in contact with the carbon for a minimum of 10 minutes. If the required flow rate is 5 gpm, then 50 gallon of carbon is required; which converts to approx. 7 cu. ft. The activated carbon must be replaced when exhausted.