ABSTRACT
Activated carbon (AC) adsorption treatment for removing water pollutants has many environment- friendly advantages relative to alternative methods. Extensive treatability studies should be conducted for developing a cost-effective AC treatment process to realize such advantages. This chapter presents the simple capacity indicator method of AC selection, the fast microcolumn rapid breakthrough method of performance simulation, the efficient two-bed-in-series series mode of treatment, the lasting biological activated carbon (BAC) and/or catalytic capabilities of the adsorber to enable its long-term service without AC replacement, and the steps to be taken in the studies. 820The recommended steps are: (1) understand the fundamentals of carbon adsorption technology, (2) employ efficient methods to conduct the adsorption isotherm and breakthrough experiments, (3) perform cost-effective treatability studies to choose the best AC and to define the optimal process scheme, (4) establish BAC capability to enable long-term organic removal without AC replacement, (5) take advantage of the AC’s catalytic capability, and (6) reactivate the spent AC.
