NCS Industrial Filtration Services: Activated Carbon Systems

NCS Fluid Handling Systems operational team and designers provide various industrial filtration and pumping systems. These systems vary from particulate filtration filter pots or activated carbon filter socks in filter pots to potentially large granular activated carbon filter vessels with pumping systems. 

In the situation where site water conditions require the removal of organic constituents or residual disinfectants prior to use or discharge, granular activated carbon is commonly incorporated into the system. These activated carbons are made from raw materials such as raw nutshells, wood, or coal. Different raw materials have varying hardness, density, particle size, characteristics, PH, ash and surface areas therefore producing various results. It is for this reason that when designing systems, the technical designers at NCS Fluid Handling Systems select Granular Activated Carbon Bed systems over other filtration systems or mediums.

The two main methods that Activated Carbon systems removes contaminates from water sources is through catalytic reduction and adsorption, residual disinfectants are removed through catalytic reduction and organics through adsorption. When designing a system NCS Fluid Handling System technical designers consider the following;

• PH - As PH increases adsorption decreases
• Contaminate Concentration - Water samples and analysis are conducted prior to system design
• Particle size - Activated carbon comes in varying mesh sizes with finer mesh better removal but does increase pressure drop
• Molecular weight - Pore structure of Activated Carbon allows high and low molecule size to be absorbed because of the varying pore size.
• Temperature - solution adsorption is impacted by temperature and lower temperature typically provides better results.
• Flow Rate - Lower flow rates allow for longer contact time and better results

In general the adsorption is a result of all the molecules exert forces to adhere to each other, because the attractive forces of activated carbon are greater that those of the forces keeping the contaminant dissolved in water. 

For all these reasons above and that there are an infinite number of organic acids, removing organics is always site specific.

If your municipal or industrial site water requires dewatering and organic constituents are present, consider incorporating one of the various filtration solutions NCS Fluid Handling Systems offers. Whether it is filter pots or activated carbon bed vessels, NCS Fluid Handling Systems designers can assist with setup, installation and monitoring.

 

 Adsorption is the adhesion of atoms, ion or molecules from a gas, liquid or dissolved solid to a surface.