Activated Carbon

Process dissolved organics removal

Define adsorption process for the removal of
one phase of material, and its concentration on
the surface of another phase. Accumulation at an
interface.

Activated Carbon
Widely used in water and waste water treatment
for the removal of taste and odor
Adsorbent the solid (e.g, activation carbon)
Adsorbate surbate (substance being removed)

 Results in physical or Van Der Waals adsorption

Physical adsorption can also have chemical
adsorption
Van Der Walls force attraction between two atoms
or molecules from dipole moment

Non balanced forces

Activated Carbon
Activated carbon can also result in mechanical
filtration of large particles
Brita water filter system

GAC

Preparation
Raw materials: -Coal most common
-Nut shells, wood
-Bone
-Resins

3 steps

Characteristics
1) Powered cheaper to use, low dosage PAC division @
200 mesh (0.074 mm)
2) Granular used in bed like ion x resins GAC (fixed
bed)
3) Surface chemistry
carbons may differ somewhat, chemically so different
selectivities
pore size distribution also affects selectivity

3 A.C. s
Raw material

Granular

Granular

Powered

Bituminous

Lignite

Lignite

Surface area, m2/g

1000

650

475

Mesh size

8 X 30

8 x 30

Ash %

7.5

12

Effective size (mm)

Apparent density
lb/ft3

0.9

30

0.9

27

0.002

49

Water Treatment PAC

taste and odor control
dosage set by jar test
5-50 mg/l usual range
Important Considerations:
Good mixing
Adequate contact time
Method to remove carbon

Points of addition
1) Rapid mix, good mixing, adequate contact time,
removed in sedimentation tank
2) Dump onto top of filter might be ok but:
a. Contract time may be too short
b. Carbon may penetrate a bad filter

3) add to sediment tank contract time ok, but poor

mixing removed in sedimentation tank and on filter

Water Treatment GAC

1) Taste and odor control ( U.S. )
2) Removal of potentially harmful trace organics
(Germany)

Taste and Odor Control

Replace top part, or all, of sand in filter, this reduces taste
and odor sufficiently for up to as long as 1-3 years.
However, Carbon Oxygen Demand (COD) or Carbon
Chloroform Extract (CCE) removal may be quite poor
after only a few weeks
So the plants are not really designed well in terms of
organics removal
Typical bed depth in U.S. is 24 in, probably less than 2
dozen plants in U.S. have carbon filters

Trace Organics Removal

Practiced in Germany
Use deeper beds, longer contact time

Wastewater Treatment PAC

1) May be used in tertiary treatment for taste and odor
reduction same techniques as in water treatment
mixes before clarifier
2) Add to activated sludge aeration tank to improve
performance, as the carbon
a) Removes non-biodegradable organics
b) Buffers against toxic organics
c) Provides a support on which biological growth can occur
d) Improves nitrification

Wastewater Treatment GAC

Used in beds or columns in a series or parallel operation
use as a polishing step treatment of testing effluent

Want low turbidity NOT GAC as a filter

Regeneration chemical or steam oxidation

GAC is regenerated, PAC is generally not
Regeneration required since AC has finite reactionation
capacity
Regenerate thermally such as multi-hearth furnace
Bed more efficient than PAC

Adsorption Capacity
Theoretical adsorption adsorption at equilibrium
Quantity of adsorbate
f of temperature
f of concentration

Most Common Isotherms

mg of X / mg of carbon

Constants determined graphically

But, hard to determine constants

from curved line

Recognize as point slope form

 GAC in a bed is more efficient than PAC dosed into the

WW

high X/M

WHY??????????????
With bed mode, GAC comes into equilibrium with
influent concentration
With feed or batch mode, PAC comes into equilibrium
with the effluent concentration

C o = starting or influent concentration

Ce = final or effluent concentration

Bed Model

ideal

Reality: kinetics &

dispersion

In Series

Regeneration in staggered fashion

Q gal / hr

PAC
X lb/ hr

Sedimentation Tank