BOILER WATER OPERATOR TRAINING Notes

Activated Carbon Filtration

WHAT IS IT?
The activated carbon filtration process is used to remove chlorine
and/or soluble organic material from a water stream.

The process functions by adsorbing organics and chlorine.

Activated carbon filters can be either gravity or pressure systems,

and can also be either down-flow or up-flow.

©2006 Nalco Company 1 SECTION 4 – Activated Carbon Filtration, Book 316 (9-06)
 BOILER WATER OPERATOR TRAINING Notes

HOW DOES IT WORK?

Although called filtration, the process is actually a contact
adsorption process, depending upon the contact time of the
organic materials and the adsorbing properties of the activated
carbon.

The activated carbon media has a very large surface area that is
highly adsorbent for organic materials.

Contact between the organics or chlorine and the media surface is

critical.

Usually an activated carbon system is placed after a sand filter (or

similar unit) that is in place to remove suspended solids so the
carbon bed is not fouled. The activated carbon unit then sees only
the soluble organic material or chlorine.

While designed primarily for removal of soluble organic material,

activated carbon can also be used to filter suspended solids.
When used in this manner (as a filter), solids are removed until
the pressure drop across the unit reaches a predetermined level.
The unit is then back washed to remove the solids, after which it
is put back into service.

Backwashing the filter

An increase in the pressure drop across the unit can also indicate
biological growth on the media or an upstream problem in the
process that should be corrected. Bacteria fouling normally
appears near the bed outlet where no chlorine is present.

©2006 Nalco Company 2 SECTION 4 – Activated Carbon Filtration, Book 316 (9-06)
 BOILER WATER OPERATOR TRAINING Notes

Too high a flow rate can channel the water stream through the
media and reduce the contact time and therefore the adsorption.

Incoming Water

Channeling

Exit Water

©2006 Nalco Company 3 SECTION 4 – Activated Carbon Filtration, Book 316 (9-06)
 BOILER WATER OPERATOR TRAINING Notes

HOW DOES IT AFFECT MY PLANT?

A properly functioning activated carbon system will prevent
problems caused by soluble organic material or chlorine in the
down stream processes.

By removing chlorine from the water stream, activated carbon

protects the cation resin in a softener or demineralizer from
chlorine attack and degradation. It can also be used to remove
chlorine from water before discharge into a river or stream.

By removing soluble organics from the water stream, activated

carbon protects the anion resin of a demineralizer or dealkalizer
from fouling due to adsorption of the organics.

Removal of soluble organics from a waste stream lowers the

BOD/COD of the effluent of the unit.

Activated carbon is also used to remove taste and odor from

drinking water.

Other effects:

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©2006 Nalco Company 4 SECTION 4 – Activated Carbon Filtration, Book 316 (9-06)
 BOILER WATER OPERATOR TRAINING Notes

WHAT DO I NEED TO DO TO OPERATE IT?

1. Maintain the flow rates within the manufacturers recommended
range.
This will ensure that the contact time (retention time) is maintained
for proper adsorption.
2. Monitor the water stream both before and after the activated
carbon unit for the pollutant to be removed.
The pollutant can be chlorine, BOD, COD, a specific organic
material, etc.
3. Monitor the pressure drop across each unit.
Backwash when the recommended pressure drop is reached.
4. Replace or regenerate the activated carbon material on a regular
basis.
Activated carbon is no longer effective when it has adsorbed its
limit of material. It must be removed from the unit. It is then
either heat regenerated to a useful capacity or discarded.
5. Other controls:
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©2006 Nalco Company 5 SECTION 4 – Activated Carbon Filtration, Book 316 (9-06)