Regeneration of spent activated carbon from wastewater treatment plant application

Abstract

The field spent activated carbon from the wastewater treatment plant application is vital to be regenerated for the reduction of environmental pollution, contribution of economic benefits and the preservation of the natural resources. In this study, chemical regeneration was identified by using hydrochloric acid and hot water to regenerate the spent activated carbon. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the adsorption capacity of regenerated spent activated carbon by chemical treatment; then develop a laboratory scale regeneration unit of spent activated carbon and subsequently characterize the activated carbon based on its pore structure and surface morphology. The adsorption capacity of the activated carbon were determined by the methylene blue number and iodine number. The optimal regeneration condition for activated carbon was found to be 0.05 M HCl, contact time of 360 minutes with 10 mL volume of HCl solution. The regeneration unit of the column was studied that the optimal flow rate is 1 mL/min. A micrographic analysis by using scanning electron microscopy had clarify the spent activated carbon already being regenerated using the chemical treatment. Therefore, chemical regeneration using hydrochloric acid solution can remove the pollutant from the spent activated carbon to be regenerated for further application.