Can Activated Carbon Be Reused? Key Factors

Activated carbon is widely used for purification, but can it be regenerated? The answer: Yes, under specific conditions.

4 Decisive Factors

1.Contaminant Type

-✅ Renewable: VOCs, dyes

-❌ Hard: Heavy metals, cyanides

2.Saturation Level

-<60% loading: Good for regeneration

-Full saturation: Low efficiency

3.Carbon Type

-Coal-based: Best(3-5 cycles)

-Coconut-shell: Medium(2-3 cycles)

4.Application

-High-temp/humidity reduces recyclability

-Oil-containing wastewater challenges regeneration

5 Regeneration Methods Compared

1.Thermal (Most Common)

-Process: 850℃ steam reactivation

-Recovery: 70-90%

-For: Industrial-scale carbon

2.Chemical

-Reagents: 10%NaOH/5%H₂SO₄

-Best for: Phenols, specific organics

3.Biological

-Mechanism: Microbial degradation

-Advantage: Eco-friendly

-Time: 2-4 weeks

4.Ultrasonic

-Technology: Cavitation effect

-For: Small particle carbon

5.Solvent Extraction

-Solvents: Ethanol, acetone

-Ideal for: Precious metal recovery

Regeneration vs Replacement Guide

5 Tips to Extend Carbon Life

1.Pre-filtration

2.Staged Usage

3.Performance Monitoring

4.Proper Cleaning

5.Correct Storage