The spent activated carbon can be regenerated by thermal and steam treatment. However, the active surfeace area (iodine number) reduces with subsequent regeneration. At the steel industry, the spent adsorbent generated in the plant is used in the coal blend at the coke oven.
This is an important question when developing new adsorbent materials from for example industrial side-products, biomaterials etc. Studies must include also discussion about regeneration methods.
Activated carbon can be regenerated, in addition to those methods already mentioned, also biologically. I.e. microbes living on the surface of activated carbon regenerate AC continuously.
Some novel sorbents and zeolites are based on ion exchange and applicable regeneration methods in these cases include treatment with NaCl or NaOH.
Finally, also the disposal of used adsorbents must be considered once it can´t be regenerated any more.
Mr. Tero Considering all the novel adsorbents being produced isnt Activated Carbon still the king of all adsorbents.
Mr. Shah, indeed it is, especially for potable water treatment but these novel and low-cost sorbents are typically indended for different waste waters.
the majority of the adsorption processes are physical processes that can be regenerated, but it depends on many factories such as type of adsorbent, type of adsorbate, the processe treatment and finally the cost of regeneration , So, I think It would be better to put an example of of a system containing an adsorbate and adsorbent and we discuss.
Note: all physical adsorption processes can be regenerated.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/311618903_Valorisation_of_post-sorption_materials_Opportunities_strategies_and_challenges
Article Valorisation of post-sorption materials: Opportunities, stra...
It can be again reused after regenerated by acid or alkali. After 4 or 4 cycle, after removing metal, it can be used in preparation of small pallets as brick and can be used as fuel.
Yes, It can be used as bio-energy (bio-ethanol, biogas production and it will be Eco-friendly approach.
If I regenerate the adsorbent using NaOH, how to deal with the wastewater produced during the desorption? As the pollutants will go into NaOH solution.
Regeneration of adsorbent depends on the process of combination of adsorbat and adsorbent. If a physical adsorption occurs, regeneration can be done, but if it is chemical process it is diffcult to separat.
Very important factor is the cost of adsorbent, if a low cost adsorbent is used , It is not necessary to reuse it. and it will make an environmental porblem.
dear sir, it's have any relevant article to explain on the definition of regeneration cycle?
I may be late to comment but used adsorbents may be further used as smokeless charcoal in conjunction with smokeless charcoal, it can be used for making coal tar as an additive, it can be used for making graffito paintings, it can be used as an additive to sand and binder for cement for building blocks, it can also be used as ceramics productions to offset the landfill cost, it can be used as chippings into making furniture and POP Plaster of Paris WITH GYPSUM FOR COATING WALLS which improves the aesthetics and structural capacity of the mixture and reduce environmental disturbances I hope this may help someone in the future