Regeneration of granular activated carbon using clean energy
Granular activated carbon (GAC) is a fundamental material in water treatment, capable of capturing contaminants such as pesticides, pharmaceuticals and other harmful substances. However, the thermal incineration of this carbon generates a significant carbon footprint.
REGENIOUS proposes an innovative solution based on an electrochemical process that allows activated carbon to be regenerated directly at the treatment plant, without the need to burn it. This technology can be powered by energy from renewable sources, transforming a polluting process into a sustainable solution. Additionally, the project seeks to develop a tool to predict the saturation state of the carbon to facilitate decision-making on when the carbon needs to be regenerated according to the specific contaminants present in each study plant.
This technology will be validated in three WTPs: Venta Alta (Vizcaya), Valmayor (Madrid) and Sant Joan Despí (Barcelona), with small-scale equipment that will allow all necessary parameters to be adjusted. These trials include electrodialysis systems to purify the electrolytes and activated carbon columns where the most relevant indicators are selected.
