THE THERMAL REGENERATION OF SPENT ACTIVATED CARBON

Abstract

Spent activated carbon loaded with methylene blue or phenol was regenerated in a nitrogen atmosphere and a steam-nitrogen atmosphere at a constant regeneration temperature. The relation between weight loss of the regenerated carbon and its adsorption capacity was investigated. Adsorption capacity was estimated by Iodine number and the decolorizing capacity of methylene blue.
In the regeneration of spent carbon in a nitrogen atmosphere, the residual material was more or less deposited on the carbon surface and the adsorption capacity of the regenerated carbon decreased.
In the regeneration of spent carbon in a steam-nitrogen atmosphere, the weight of spent activated carbon decreased with regeneration time. The weight loss rate of spent carbon was affected by the partial pressure of steam in the gas and the regeneration temperature. An empirical equation for the weight loss rate was obtained. A good correlation between Iodine number of the regenerated carbon and its weight loss was obtained.