Experiments on the Regeneration of Active Carbons Used in the Purification of Industrial Waste Waters.

A study is made of the most important parameters of the process of high-temperature (700-800 degree C) regeneration of active carbons used in the purification of waste waters. Also considered are the changes introduced into the adsorbent structure of the operating conditions of the regeneration as a function of the initial characteristics of the material (carbons obtained from lignite or from bituminous coal). An alternative procedure for regeneration is proposed, namely, low temperature (350 degree C) stripping with flue gases from the combustion of natural gas in the presence of steam. The liquid effluents emerging from the regenerator, of small volume but containing a very high concentration of impurities, are pyrolized by injection into the natural gas flame. In this way, both quenching of the flue gases and the addition of the steam required for the stripping of the active carbon are achieved.