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Performance Characteristics of Biological Activated Carbon Adsorption and Filtration in Removing Microparticulates and Natural Organic Matters from River Water
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Researchers found that a special water filter using activated carbon (like charcoal) can remove up to 94% of microplastics and other contaminants from river water that regular filtration systems often miss. The catch: running water through the filter too slowly for too long causes it to clog, so treatment plants need to find the right balance between cleaning the water thoroughly and keeping the system running smoothly. This matters because it points to a practical way to reduce microplastics and other pollutants in the water we drink, which is increasingly showing up in rivers that supply our tap water.
Decentralized water treatment systems that rely on coagulation-sedimentation and rapid sand filtration without granular activated carbon are generally ineffective at removing micropollutants―particularly microplastics (MPs)―and natural organic matter (NOM). Increasing concentrations of MPs and NOM in river water complicate drinking-water treatment by impairing process control and optimization, while also elevating coagulant demand and required disinfectant doses. This study evaluated the performance of biological activated carbon (BAC) filtration for removing MPs and NOM in an advanced treatment train, using empty bed contact times (EBCTs) ranging from 8 to 16 minutes. BAC filtration achieved high removal efficiencies for NOM (85-89% for DOC, 2-MIB, and geosmin) and particulates (85-94%). However, headloss development in the BAC bed increased substantially at EBCTs longer than 16 minutes―approximately 2-3 times higher than at EBCTs below 10 minutes. These results indicate that the combined adsorption and filtration processes in BAC promote pore clogging due to effective particulate and NOM removal, highlighting the need to balance treatment performance with hydraulic sustainability.
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Performance of Powdered Activated Carbon Adsorption/Membrane Filtration System for Treating the River Water with a High Particulates and Natural Organic Matters
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Researchers evaluated a combined powdered activated carbon (PAC) adsorption and membrane filtration system for treating river water containing high levels of micro-particulates including colloids and microplastics, as well as natural organic matter such as total organic carbon and taste-and-odor compounds. The system demonstrated improved removal of both particulate and dissolved contaminants compared to conventional clarification processes.
Performance of activated carbon for polypropylene microplastic removal in wastewater
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Researchers tested the ability of granular activated carbon to remove polypropylene microplastics from wastewater and found it could capture over 90 percent of particles under optimized conditions. The carbon's effectiveness depended on factors like particle size, contact time, and water chemistry. The study supports activated carbon adsorption as a practical and efficient add-on treatment step for removing microplastics from water treatment systems.
Protocol for a systematic review on mechanisms, influencing factors and performance on biochar and activated carbon for micro and nanoplastic removal in aqueous systems
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Tiny plastic bits called microplastics and nanoplastics are turning up in our water and could pose risks to our health, so scientists are looking for practical ways to filter them out. This study is a planned review (not new lab data) that will pull together existing research on two charcoal-like materials—biochar and activated carbon—to figure out how well they trap these plastic particles and what conditions make them work best. The findings could help guide the development of cheaper, more effective water filters to reduce our exposure to microplastics in drinking water.
Biochar and activated carbon for micro‐ and nanoplastic removal in aqueous systems: a systematic review on mechanisms, influencing factors, and performance
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This review combined 12 lab studies on using charcoal-like materials, biochar and activated carbon, to remove tiny plastic particles from water. Versions treated with iron compounds removed over 90% of particles in lab tests, but most experiments used artificial water and clean plastic samples, not real-world conditions.
Carbon-Based Adsorbents for Microplastic Removal from Wastewater
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This review examines how carbon-based materials like biochar, activated carbon, and carbon nanotubes can filter microplastics out of wastewater. Modified versions of these materials showed high removal rates, suggesting they could help reduce the amount of microplastics that reach drinking water sources and, ultimately, the human body.
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