Granular Activated Carbon Adsorption with On-Site Infrared Furnace Reactivation

摘要

The costs associated with the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of three 1 million gallons per day (mgd) granular activated carbon (GAC) pressure contractors and reactivation system were evaluated over a 2.4 year operational period. The reactivation system was comprised of a Shirco infrared reactivation furnace, three GAC storage tanks, and a water slurry GAC transport system. Operation and maintenance costs, excluding amortized capital costs, were determined to be 20 cents/lb of reactivated GAC or 14 cents/1,000 gal of treated water. Adsorption performance of the reactivated GAC was equal to or greater than that of virgin GAC for all parameters monitored. The GAC loss observed during reactivation averaged 8.6% and was comprised of 7.1% reactivation loss and 1.5% transport loss. The effluent streams of the infrared reactivation furnace were examined for the presence of polychlorinated dibenzodioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans. While trace levels of some of these substances were observed, a risk assessment indicated a maximum life time risk of three in 1 billion for the existing facility.