Regeneration of Activated Carbons

Activated Carbons are unique and versatile adsorbents because of their extended surface area, micro-porous structure, high adsorption capacity, and high degree of surface reactivities. They are extensively used to purify, decolorize, deodorize, dechlorinate, and detoxicate potable waters in petroleum, gas, petrochemical, food and wastewater treatment industries. Several methods are proposed to regenerate the spent activated carbon in literature. In this paper these methods such as thermal, chemical, electrochemical, catalytic, biological and super-sonic are described and compared.