Electrochemical regeneration of activated carbons versus thermal regeneration

Description of the technology

The research group Electrocatalysis and Polymer Electrochemistry of the University of Alicante has developed a new technology in order to regenerate activated carbons. The main advantages of this technology are: it can be used in situ and at room temperature and pressure. This technology can be used in the following industrial sectors: pharmaceutical, waste recycling, drinking water, etc. The research group is looking for companies interested in this technology for licensing agreement or technical cooperation.

Specifications

The economics and feasibility of the adsorption technology on industrial scale largely depends on the reactivation and reuse of the spent activated carbon. The ideal activated carbon regeneration process involves desorption of the pollutants concentrated in the activated carbon without any modification of the initial properties of the carbon material. Spent activated carbons are conventionally regenerated using thermal, physicochemical or biological processes; all of these processes are complex, costly and have high energy demand. In this sense, the implementation of electroadsorption technology permits the possibility of inverting the polarization of the potential producing desorption of the contaminant and the regeneration of the activated carbon in the same system without being necessary transport activated carbon saturated. Then, the electrochemical regeneration method is an alternative technology due to its unique features such as it can be conveniently operated in situ at room temperature and pressure, with low energy consumption and with short time requirements.

Main advantages of its use

• Allows regeneration of activated carbon in the same place where it is being used (in-situ regeneration), avoiding removal and transport activated carbon.
• It enables not only activated carbon regeneration, but also to enhance the performance of adsorption process increasing the adsorption capacity of the porous material and the rate of adsorption.
• It works at room temperature and atmospheric pressure, unlike the heat treatment, which uses temperatures between 600-1000 °C, and oxidizing or inert gases.
• The energy consumption is lower than in thermal regeneration. For example, electrochemical regeneration of activated carbon saturated with phenol has an efficiency of 85%, takes place between 2-3 hours and consumes between 0.20-1.80 kWh/kg respect thermal regeneration, which consumes between 220-250 kWh/kg to obtain a similar efficiency.
• The equipment used is simple (requires no additional handling or transport of chemicals), and provides a very economical process and easy control.
• The regeneration efficiency is very high (85-90%).
• The textural properties of the original material are slightly modified.
• The treatment can be stopped in seconds, controlling the regeneration process at different time scales.

Applications

• Chemicals and Materials.
• Drinking water.
• Other Medical/Health Related.
• Pharmaceutical.
• Pollution and Recycling Related.
• Utilities and Related Firms.
• Waste recycling.