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Activated Carbon

Activated carbon is usually formed from coal or coconut shells that are converted to charcoal and then processed to create a very porous material with a huge surface area that can be used for adsorption or reaction. As a result, it is a very effective media for removing a wide range of contaminants from potable and industrial water supplies as well as industrial and municipal waste water. In large applications, once exhausted, the carbon can be reprocessed and reused.

How is activated carbon created?

Activated carbon is created through one of two processes:

  • Steam activation creates a media with “fine” pore structure ideal for the adsorption of compounds from both liquids and vapors. 
  • Chemical activation creates active carbons with a very open structure ideal for the adsorption of large molecules.

Applications

Activated carbon is used in a large range of applications in both powder (PAC) and granular (GAC) forms. 

PAC is ideal on large surface water treatment plants as it requires no fixed cost and can simply be added to flocculent tanks at a prescribed rate. The activated carbon is then removed as part of the flocculation process or can be filtered mechanically. The treated water is then suitable for supply. It is often more cost-effective to use powdered activated carbon to remove seasonal taste, odour and toxins, created by biological action in surface water sources than a more permanent process.

Unlike PAC applications GAC is usually held in a fixed filter bed and operated until the carbon bed is exhausted.  The carbon is then removed from the vessel and reactivated, usually by heat treatment off-site.

Activated carbon is typically used to remove contaminants from water such as:

  • Pesticides
  • Aromatic compounds such as phenol
  • Adsorbable organic halogens
  • Non-biodegradable organic compounds
  • Colour compounds and dyestuffs
  • Chlorinated/halogenated organic compounds
  • Toxic compounds
  • Compounds that will inhibit biological treatments
  • Oil removal in process condensates
  • Halogens, especially chlorine that will oxidise down stream processes
  • Organics that will foul ion exchange resins or RO

Active carbon works in several ways to treat water:

Catalytic

The activated carbon catalyzes removal of chlorine without changing the active carbon. However, the process has a finite capacity and eventually the active carbon needs to be replaced.  The advantage of activated carbon for dechlorination is its low operating costs. However, once the chlorine is removed from the activated carbon the damp environment and trapped organics becomes an ideal environment for bacteria. This can cause problems for sensitive applications, such as medical applications or when used as pre-treatment for reverse osmosis.

Adsorption

Activated carbon removes a range of compounds, especially organic compounds and chlorine, through the process of adsorption. Organic compounds in the water are attracted to the surface of the activated carbon. A number of factors alter the effectiveness of the activated carbon. These include pore size, composition and concentration of the contaminant, temperature and pH of the water and the flow rate or time exposure of water to activated carbon. 

Biological

Due to the large surface area activated carbon beds can support a biomass that consumes organics within the raw water. This biological activity can dramatically improve the performance of activated carbon filters in the correct applications.