Desorption- and Decomposition-Based Techniques for the Regeneration of Activated Carbon

Activated carbon (AC) is an adsorbent used in most adsorption processes related to micro removal of pollutants from the water phase, but the application is limited due to high costs and environmental issues related to the disposal after saturation. Different regeneration techniques, reducing costs and minimizing environmental impact, are reported for the reuse of saturated AC. These techniques can be performed via two separate strands: regeneration based only on desorption of adsorbed compounds in AC, or based on the decomposition of pollutants adsorbed on AC. Literature on the regeneration of saturated ACs is reviewed and promising techniques are highlighted. One of the most challenging bottlenecks preventing the commercial application of regeneration technologies is the difficulty of scaling-up.