Regeneration of phenol-saturated activated carbon in an electrochemical reactor

The regeneration of phenol-saturated activated carbon in an electrochemical reactor was investigated in order to develop a novel regeneration method of activated carbon. The regeneration of spent activated carbon saturated with phenol was conducted in a stirred electrochemical reactor under different operating conditions. The influences of operating parameters, such as regeneration current intensity and time, on regeneration efficiency were systematically investigated. The regeneration efficiency can reach over 80% under continuous stirring in the reactor, and it only decreases by less than 5% after four regeneration cycles. Electrochemical regeneration in the stirred electrochemical reactor is shown to be an effective method for the regeneration of phenol-saturated activated carbon with a much higher regeneration efficiency compared with a process using NaOH solution. (C) 2002 Society of Chemical Industry.