The Role Of Activated Carbon In Water Treatment

    The main component of activated carbon is carbon, which has a huge surface area and is able to adsorb various organic and inorganic substances, and is commonly used in purifying water and air. In addition to carbon, activated carbon may also contain impurities of some other elements, such as oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen, sulphur and so on.

    Types of activated carbon include wood activated carbon, coal activated carbon, coconut shell activated carbon, herbal activated carbon, graphite activated carbon and so on. Different raw materials and production processes will affect the adsorption capacity, surface area, pore size distribution and other characteristics of activated carbon.

    The role of activated carbon in water treatment

    Activated carbon adsorption is one of the most commonly used methods in water treatment. The application of activated carbon in water treatment is mainly to remove suspended particles, colloids and organic pollutants in water.

    (1) Removal of suspended particles: the adsorption effect of activated carbon on suspended particles can be used to purify water and recover useful substances. For example, heavy metal ions can be recovered from wastewater by using the adsorption effect of activated carbon on heavy metal ions in water. In the paper industry, activated carbon can be used to remove impurities in the pulp to make the pulp softer and smoother, and also to remove the residual printing ink in the pulp, etc.; in sewage treatment, activated carbon can be used to remove dissolved organic pollutants, antibiotics, dyes, pesticides and other difficult-to-biodegrade compounds in water, etc.; in the food industry, activated carbon can be used to remove pesticides produced in the food processing process and In the food industry, activated carbon can be used to remove pesticides and heavy metals and other harmful substances produced during food processing.

    (2) Removal of colloidal particles in water: Adsorption, filtration and decolouration of colloidal particles in water by activated carbon, so as to make it reach the standard of drinking water.

    (3) Removal of organic pollutants in water: Adsorption of organic substances with activated carbon can achieve the purpose of removing organic pollutants in water. For example, the use of activated carbon for adsorption treatment of organic pollutants in industrial wastewater can make industrial wastewater meet the national emission standards; in the pharmaceutical industry, the use of activated carbon for adsorption treatment of drugs can make the concentration of drugs lower, thus improving the quality of drugs.

    (4) Removal of metal ions in water: the use of activated carbon for adsorption treatment of metal ions can make iron, copper, manganese and other metal ions in water be effectively removed. For example, in the paper-making industry, the use of activated carbon for the adsorption treatment of heavy metal ions in paper-making wastewater can make the paper-making wastewater meet the national emission standards.

    Therefore, it is widely used in the field of water treatment and plays an important role in improving water quality, purifying water and protecting human health.