How Does Activated Carbon Clean Up Industrial Wastewater?
Activated carbon works through adsorption—a process where contaminants chemically bond to its vast network of micropores. Just one gram can have a surface area exceeding 1,000 m², enabling it to capture: Organic pollutants: Phenols, pesticides, and non-biodegradable solvents Heavy metals: Mercury, lead, and chromium ions (when specially impregnated) Complex compounds: Dyes, pharmaceutical residues, and PFAS “forever chemicals” Unlike membrane systems that clog or chemical treatments that create sludge, carbon operates continuously with minimal energy. A textile plant in Bangladesh, for example, reduced dye concentrations from 500 ppm to <1 ppm using granular activated carbon (GAC), avoiding costly shutdowns. Where Activated Carbon Delivers Unmatched Results Textile Industry: Erasing Color Pollution Reactive dyes resist biological breakdown, turning rivers neon. Activated carbon: Adsorbs azo dyes and fixatives in effluent streams Recovers water for reuse in dyeing vats Prevents regulatory fines in regions like India and Vietnam kelin’s coal-based GAC excels here—its high hardness withstands abrasive flows, while mesopores target large dye molecules. Chemical Manufacturing: Taming Toxic Effluents Pharmaceutical and pesticide plants generate wastewater laced with: Chlorinated solvents (e.g., trichloroethylene) Benzene derivatives Endocrine disruptors Powdered activated carbon (PAC) injections adsorb these rapidly, with one agrochemical plant reporting 94% COD reduction within 2 hours. kelin’s...
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