ABSTRACT
Activated carbon (AC) is the most common adsorbent used in drinking water treatment. It can be manufactured from different organic base materials. The different base materials, coupled with different technologies for manufacture and activation, lead to AC products with significant differences. The manufacture of AC starts with a carbonaceous base material such as bamboo, coconut husk, peat, wood, lignite or coal. AC testing starts with the determination of the adsorption capacity of the product at equilibrium conditions. Different amounts of AC are added to water samples containing the problem contaminant. It is useful to compare some isotherm data from the literature. AC is most commonly available in either powdered (PAC) or granular (GAC) form. The effectiveness of PAC also depends on the hydraulic efficiency of the contact reactor. GAC is relatively costly. It is therefore an attractive option to regenerate the GAC after use to restore it to its original adsorption capacity.
