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What does activated carbon remove from water?

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Date:2024-10-29
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what does activated carbon remove from water?



How does activated carbon filter water?


Carbón activado, the problem of water pollution has become increasingly serious, especially in the context of accelerated industrialization, water sources have been polluted by a variety of harmful substances. In order to ensure water quality safety, the research and application of water treatment technology has become increasingly mature, and activated carbon, as a highly efficient adsorption material, has been widely used in the field of water treatment due to its excellent performance. Activated carbon has a developed pore structure and a huge specific surface area, which can effectively remove organic pollutants in water, such as benzene compounds, phenolic compounds, petroleum and its derivatives. Most of these pollutants are difficult to remove by conventional treatment methods, so the use of activated carbon provides a reliable solution for water treatment. In recent years, with the development of technology, hundreds of water plants around the world have adopted granular activated carbon treatment technology, and my country's research and application of activated carbon in water treatment has also continued to deepen.



What is activated carbon?


Carbón activado is a material composed of porous carbon-based substances. It has a dark black appearance and has good adsorption performance and stable chemical properties. It can resist the erosion of strong acids and strong alkalis, and is resistant to high temperatures and water immersion. It is a typical hydrophobic adsorbent. The adsorption capacity of activated carbon mainly comes from its developed pore structure, which is full of tiny pores inside, giving it a huge specific surface area.



How does activated carbon work?


The manufacturing process of activated carbon involves removing volatile organic compounds and forming intercrystalline spaces, which creates pores of various shapes and sizes. Typically, the pores of a few cubic activated carbon particles occupy 70% to 80% of the total volume of the particles. These pores have various shapes and a wide range of pore sizes, while the specific surface area of the pore walls is usually as high as 500 to 1700 square meters per gram, which provides activated carbon with strong adsorption capacity. Its large adsorption capacity and fast adsorption rate are determined by these microporous structures.

During the adsorption process, the micropores of activated carbon play the main adsorption role, while the macropores and transition pores play the role of providing adsorption paths. Their presence directly affects the adsorption rate and desorption efficiency. In addition, the chemical properties of the activated carbon surface also affect its adsorption performance to a certain extent. For example, the presence of surface functional groups can change the type of adsorbed substances and the adsorption effect.



How does activated carbon filter water?



Application of activated carbon in water treatment

Activated carbon adsorption technology has become the preferred process for removing organic matter from water. Due to the wide range of activated carbon raw materials and strong adsorption capacity, especially for the removal of color, odor and organic matter, activated carbon has been widely used in drinking water and industrial wastewater treatment.


Application in drinking water treatment

In the process of drinking water treatment, granular activated carbon is often used in rapid biofilters as a filter material for secondary filtration. Biodegradable organic matter (BOM) in water can be removed through the microbial activity on the surface of granular activated carbon. This process is called secondary biological activated carbon filtration, and its effectiveness is supported by a large number of literature.

In addition, biological activated carbon filters have the following advantages:




Control bacterial growth: By removing the nutrients needed for bacterial growth in the water supply system, the growth of bacteria in the water is effectively controlled.


Reduce the amount of disinfectant used: By reducing the content of organic matter that reacts with the disinfectant, the amount of disinfectant required in the drinking water treatment process is reduced.


Reduce disinfection by-products: By removing the precursors of disinfection by-products in the water, the generation of disinfection by-products is reduced.


Improve water quality stability: The biological treatment process converts organic matter into inorganic end products, reduces the shedding of biofilm, and simplifies sludge treatment.


Reduce costs: The cost of biological treatment is lower than that of activated carbon adsorption, making it an ideal choice for water plant promotion.


What does activated carbon remove from water?(图1)




How does activated carbon filter wastewater?


Application in wastewater treatment

Activated carbon is not only effective in drinking water treatment, but also widely used in industrial wastewater treatment, especially in removing odor and color from wastewater. For example, activated carbon can effectively adsorb odorous substances such as acetaldehyde and indole, and remove odorous gases such as hydrogen sulfide through chemical reactions. In addition, activated carbon has a significant decolorization effect in treating printing and dyeing wastewater. Through the combined process of anaerobic treatment, coagulation sedimentation and activated carbon adsorption, the chemical oxygen demand (COD) in wastewater can be effectively reduced, and the ideal decolorization effect can be achieved.

1. Combined application of activated carbon and other water treatment technologies

With the continuous development of water treatment technology, the combined process of activated carbon and other technologies has shown great potential in improving treatment efficiency and reducing costs. The following are several common activated carbon combined processes:

2. Potassium permanganate-activated carbon combined process

When treating lightly polluted water sources, the combined process of activated carbon and potassium permanganate performs well. This process can not only effectively remove organic pollutants in water, but also significantly reduce the turbidity of water and save the use of coagulants, which is economical and practical.

3. Biological activated carbon method

Biological activated carbon method is a new water treatment technology developed on the basis of activated carbon adsorption technology. This method uses activated carbon as a carrier of biofilm, and uses the adsorption capacity of activated carbon and the degradation effect of biofilm to remove organic pollutants in water in a two-pronged way. This technology is widely used in drinking water treatment and sewage treatment.

4. Powdered activated carbon-activated sludge process

Powdered activated carbon-activated sludge process (PACT) is to add powdered activated carbon to the activated sludge aeration tank, and use the synergistic effect of adsorption and degradation of biological activated carbon to remove organic pollutants. This process overcomes the limitations of traditional activated sludge method in removing difficult-to-degrade organic matter, while improving the dewatering performance of sludge, and has been widely used in the field of industrial wastewater treatment.

5. Conclusion

In general, as an efficient water treatment method, activated carbon adsorption technology plays a vital role in the field of water treatment with its excellent adsorption performance. Whether it is to remove organic pollutants in drinking water or to treat odor and color problems in industrial wastewater, activated carbon performs very well. With the continuous advancement of science and technology, the application of activated carbon in water treatment will become more extensive and will provide more efficient technical support for solving the global water pollution problem.



Should powdered activated carbon or granular activated carbon be used for water treatment activated carbon?

In the process of water treatment, the choice of activated carbon is crucial to the treatment effect. Different types of activated carbon are suitable for different process requirements and conditions. Powdered activated carbon and granular activated carbon have their own advantages and disadvantages in performance, applicable occasions and economy. Shufang Activated Carbon will combine the actual application of water treatment to discuss in detail the factors that should be considered when choosing powdered activated carbon or granular activated carbon, to help readers better understand how to make appropriate choices in different situations.


Characteristics of powdered activated carbon and granular activated carbon?


1. Characteristics of powdered activated carbon

Powdered activated carbon has a small particle size, usually micron-level, and the commonly used specifications are 200 mesh and 325 mesh. It has a large specific surface area and can therefore quickly adsorb pollutants in water. Due to its fine particle size, powdered activated carbon shows a higher adsorption rate in water treatment, especially when dealing with high concentrations of pollutants that need to be treated quickly.

Powdered activated carbon is mostly used for one-time treatment and usually cannot be regenerated and reused. Its rapid processing ability makes it suitable for emergency treatment or short-term treatment processes, but due to its powdery properties, more sophisticated dosing equipment is required during operation.


2. Characteristics of granular activated carbon

Granular activated carbon filter has a larger particle size, generally ranging from 0.5 mm to several millimeters. Common specifications are 8-30 mesh. Due to the large particles, the resistance to water flow is small, so granular activated carbon is suitable for water treatment processes that require long-term continuous operation. Granular activated carbon has a relatively slow adsorption rate, but its durability and renewability make it a preferred option for lightly polluted or long-term water treatment.

Granular activated carbon can be regenerated by thermal or chemical means and reused many times, which provides economic advantages for large-scale water treatment plants or long-term industrial wastewater treatment.




What are the different uses of activated carbon?



Choose different activated carbons for different working environments:

1. Applications of granular activated carbon

In continuous and stable water treatment systems, granular activated carbon is often a better choice. For example, drinking water treatment, industrial wastewater treatment, and large sewage treatment plants usually use granular activated carbon because it is not easy to lose and can be kept running for a long time through the filtration system, reducing the trouble of frequent replacement. In addition, granular activated carbon can be regenerated and reused, which is suitable for processes with lighter pollution loads and has lower overall operating costs.

The main applications of granular activated carbon include: deodorization and dechlorination in water plants, removal of organic matter in industrial wastewater, and decolorization in wastewater

2. Applications of powdered activated carbon

Powdered activated carbon is suitable for applications with heavy pollution loads and high treatment requirements. Due to its fast adsorption rate, it can effectively remove high concentrations of organic pollutants in a short time, so it is often used in some intermittent treatment or emergency treatment processes. Powdered activated carbon is used in the following situations: short-term treatment of acute pollutants, emergency treatment of pollution peaks, and water bodies that need to quickly treat organic matter, color or odor


In some cases, such as sudden water pollution incidents, the use of powdered activated carbon can quickly control pollution, but because it cannot be regenerated, the cost of one-time use is high, and a balance needs to be considered between economic costs and treatment needs.



3. Treatment effect and operational convenience

1. Adsorption speed and treatment efficiency

Powdered activated carbon has a faster adsorption speed. Thanks to its large specific surface area, it can capture more pollutants in a short time. Therefore, for those occasions where pollutant concentrations need to be reduced quickly, powdered activated carbon is a very effective choice.

In contrast, granular activated carbon has a slower adsorption speed, but it is more suitable for systems that require stable and long-term treatment. Due to the size and shape of the particles, it has less resistance in the water treatment system and does not affect the passage of water, so it is suitable for large-flow water treatment processes.

2. Operational convenience

The operational advantage of granular activated carbon lies in its stability and easy regeneration. When replacement is required, granular carbon can be achieved by simple backwashing or replacement of the carbon bed, and the process is relatively simple.

The treatment of powdered activated carbon is more complicated, and usually requires special equipment for addition and separation. During the treatment process, powdered carbon is easy to lose, and additional filtration or precipitation equipment is required to recover the activated carbon particles. In addition, the use of powdered carbon may also affect the hydraulic conditions of the system, increasing the maintenance and operation complexity of the system.

4. Cost-benefit analysis

In water treatment, cost is always an important consideration. Granular activated carbon can be reused, and the regenerated granular carbon still has a high adsorption capacity. In the long run, the use of granular activated carbon can reduce the overall operating cost of the treatment system.

In contrast, powdered activated carbon is a one-time use material. Although its use is necessary in some special cases, its cost is higher from a long-term operation perspective, so it is more suitable for emergency treatment or special high-pollution load treatment.

The choice of powdered carbon or granular carbon needs to be evaluated based on the specific needs of water treatment, such as the amount of water to be treated, the type of pollutants, the treatment process requirements, and the economic budget. Generally, large-scale continuous operation systems are more suitable for granular carbon, while powdered carbon is a better choice for intermittent treatment or occasions where efficient removal of pollutants is urgently needed.

5. Water quality requirements and carbon characteristics

In treatment systems with high water quality requirements, the choice of type of activated carbon also needs to consider the chemical properties of the activated carbon itself. For example, some granular carbons have a high ash content, which may affect the final effluent water quality. As for powdered activated carbon, due to its small particle size, it is easier to disperse during the addition process, and the residual carbon powder in the water may affect the clarity of the effluent water.

In addition, some specific applications in water treatment may require activated carbon to have a higher purity and a lower ash content. For example, in the process of drinking water treatment, the selection requirements for granular carbon will be more stringent. In occasions such as industrial wastewater treatment, the purity requirements for granular carbon are relatively low, but the requirements for adsorption performance are higher. Therefore, the treatment process should select the appropriate type of activated carbon according to the actual water quality.



How to treat printing and dyeing wastewater? What are the main components of printing and dyeing wastewater?


With the rapid development of the textile industry, the scale of dye production is also expanding. More than 700,000 tons of dyes are produced worldwide each year, which has brought great pressure to the environment. The composition of dye wastewater is complex, the water quality varies greatly, the chroma and concentration are high, and it is difficult to treat. Therefore, it is particularly important to find an efficient wastewater treatment method. Shufang Activated Carbon will discuss in detail the application of activated carbon in dye wastewater treatment, including its working principle, advantages, challenges and future development direction.



1. Characteristics and treatment difficulties of dye wastewater

Dye wastewater usually contains a variety of organic pollutants, such as dyes, auxiliaries, bleaching agents, etc. The difficulty of its treatment is mainly reflected in the following aspects:


Complex water quality: Dye wastewater has a variety of components and often contains a variety of difficult-to-degrade organic matter, resulting in limited effectiveness of traditional treatment methods.

High chroma and COD: Dye wastewater has a deep chroma and high COD, which directly affects the light transmittance and ecological balance of the water body.

Large fluctuations in water quality: During the wastewater discharge process, the water quality may fluctuate due to process changes, posing challenges to stable treatment.



Due to the above characteristics, traditional physical and chemical treatment methods and biological treatment methods face many limitations when treating dye wastewater.




2. Characteristics and advantages of activated carbon


Activated carbon is a porous adsorption material with a significant specific surface area (usually 500 to 1500 m²/g). Its unique physical and chemical properties make it an ideal choice for treating dye wastewater. The main advantages of Shufang activated carbon include:


High adsorption capacity: Activated carbon has excellent adsorption capacity for a variety of organic substances and can effectively remove chroma and COD in water.


Strong chemical stability: Activated carbon is resistant to strong acids and alkalis and can be used for a long time in harsh environments.


Good regenerative ability: Used activated carbon can restore some of its adsorption capacity through regeneration treatment, thereby reducing operating costs.


Strong adaptability: Activated carbon can be applied in different forms according to the nature of the wastewater, such as granular activated carbon and powdered activated carbon.


3. Working principle of activated carbon adsorption method

The adsorption process of activated carbon is a complex physical and chemical process, which mainly includes the following steps:


Contact and diffusion: After the activated carbon particles come into contact with the solute molecules in the wastewater, the solute molecules enter the micropores of the activated carbon.


Adsorption: The solute molecules are adsorbed on the surface and pores of the activated carbon through various forces such as van der Waals force and chemical adsorption force.


Equilibrium: As the adsorption process proceeds, the solute concentration gradually decreases and reaches an equilibrium state.


Regeneration: The used activated carbon can restore its adsorption capacity through thermal regeneration or chemical regeneration methods to extend its service life.



Application examples of activated carbon in dye wastewater treatment

1 .Process flow

Take a textile enterprise as an example. The wastewater treatment process of this enterprise is as follows:


Pretreatment: Remove suspended solids and large particles in wastewater by physical and chemical methods.


Biological treatment: Use biological contact oxidation to treat organic pollutants in water.


Activated carbon adsorption: Add activated carbon to the back of the biochemical pool to enhance the treatment effect.


Sedimentation and discharge: The wastewater treated with activated carbon is precipitated and finally meets the national emission standards.


2 .Effect evaluation

In the application of this enterprise, after several cubic meters of activated carbon treatment, the color and COD value of the wastewater were significantly reduced, and the treated water quality met the national emission standards.


3.Challenges of activated carbon treatment of dye wastewater

Although activated carbon has obvious advantages in dye wastewater treatment, there are still some challenges:


Cost issue: High-quality activated carbon has a high cost, especially for large-scale applications, and the economic feasibility still needs to be further evaluated.


Regeneration difficulty: The regeneration process of activated carbon may consume a lot of energy, and the adsorption capacity of activated carbon may not be fully restored after regeneration.


Adsorption saturation: Activated carbon is easy to reach adsorption saturation when treating high-concentration dye wastewater, and needs to be replaced or regenerated regularly.


Environmental impact: Activated carbon still needs to be properly treated after treatment to avoid secondary pollution.


4. Future development direction

In view of the current challenges of activated carbon in dye wastewater treatment, research and improvement can be carried out in the following directions in the future:


Development of new activated carbon materials: Improve the adsorption performance and regeneration capacity of activated carbon through modification and composite materials.


Optimization process: Combine with other wastewater treatment technologies (such as membrane separation, biological treatment, etc.) to form a comprehensive treatment plan to improve the overall treatment efficiency.


Cost control: Explore low-cost production processes and regeneration technologies to reduce the cost of activated carbon.


Environmentally friendly treatment: Develop new technologies to ensure that no secondary pollution will be generated during the treatment process, in line with the requirements of sustainable development.



5. The role of activated carbon

As an effective wastewater treatment agent, activated carbon has become an ideal choice for treating dye wastewater due to its excellent adsorption performance and chemical stability. Although it faces certain challenges in application, the application prospects of activated carbon are still broad through continuous technological innovation and process optimization. In the future, driven by environmental protection policies, activated carbon will play a more important role in the field of wastewater treatment and contribute to the protection of water resources and the ecological environment.