Navigating The Carbon Exchange Landscape

Granular activated carbon (GAC) filters are an increasingly popular technology for removing contaminants from liquid or vapor-state water. To remain effective, carbon media must be replaced periodically. The best way to handle spent carbon depends on a variety of factors, including the application, contaminants adsorbed, local regulations, staff expertise, and more.

This article is designed to help engineers and plant managers determine how best to manage the carbon exchange process. It will cover the benefits of using virgin over reactivated carbon, or vice versa. Readers can also learn how to track adsorption in the media bed to get the most out of the carbon before swapping out. Next, the article will cover how to determine if the exchange process should be handled in-house or with a third-party vendor. Lastly, it will discuss different disposal methods and factors that can determine which one(s) can be used.