Granular activated carbon (GAC) is a critical media used in water treatment, air purification, and industrial filtration. Its porous structure enables it to adsorb a wide range of contaminants, including volatile organic compounds, chemicals, and dissolved organics. Although it is highly effective, GAC is not a consumable that lasts forever. Over time, its pores fill with impurities and adsorption capacity declines. At that point, facilities have a choice: dispose of the spent carbon or recover it through granular activated carbon reactivation.
Understanding the Lifecycle of GAC
Initial Installation
Virgin carbon is placed into treatment vessels or filter units.
Adsorption Phase
As wastewater or process streams pass through, contaminants are trapped inside the carbon’s pores.
Breakthrough
Once the carbon becomes saturated, contaminant removal drops and performance declines.
Reactivation or Replacement
Spent carbon can either be replaced with virgin material or sent for thermal reactivation.
Reactivation renews the carbon for reuse, allowing multiple cycles of service and significantly lowering total lifetime cost.
What is Granular Activated Carbon Reactivation?
Granular activated carbon reactivation is a high-temperature process designed to remove accumulated pollutants from saturated carbon and restore its adsorption capacity. Spent GAC is heated in a furnace or kiln to temperatures reaching 1,700°F in a controlled, oxygen-limited environment. This process thermally decomposes the adsorbed compounds and reopens the carbon’s pore structure.
The reactivated carbon can then be redeployed in the field, usually at a cost substantially lower than virgin carbon while still meeting performance requirements.
Benefits of Reactivation
Choosing to reactivate rather than replace offers several key advantages:
Cost Efficiency
Reactivated GAC typically costs 30–40% less than the purchase of virgin carbon.
Waste Reduction
Less spent carbon is landfilled, which reduces disposal liability.
Sustainability
Reactivation supports circular use of carbon resources and decreases demand for new raw material.
Regulatory Compliance
When handled by qualified providers, reactivation supports compliance with EPA and RCRA disposal guidelines.
Pelton Environmental’s Carbon Reactivation Services
Pelton Environmental delivers turnkey solutions that manage every stage of the carbon lifecycle. Services are suited to municipal, industrial, and remediation applications, and include:
- Spent Carbon PIckup and Transport - Safe removal from site with proper documentation.
- Thermal Reactivation - Processing of spent carbon to restore adsorption capacity.
- Carbon Exchange Services - Swap-out programs where spent carbon is exchanged for pre-reactivated media.
- Industrial Filtration Support - Engineering assistance and troubleshooting of GAC systems to optimize runtime and performance.
By working with an experienced provider, clients maintain operational uptime while reducing total media-related expenses.
Selecting a Reactivation Partner
Not all reactivation processes are equal. When evaluating a supplier, it is important to vet:
Processing Capacity
To determine if your volume requirements can be met.
Quality Assurance
Quality assurance testing for iodine number, moisture content, and adsorption performance.
Regulatory Experience
Regulatory experience with handling spent media profiles and manifests.
Logistics Capabilities
Logistics capabilities for transporting, exchanging, and reinstalling GAC on a scheduled basis.
Pelton Environmental has the technical infrastructure and expertise required to support each phase of the granular activated carbon lifecycle from installation through reactivation and redeployment.
Have Questions About Carbon Reactivation?
The team at Pelton Environmental is happy to answer any questions you have. Please contact us using the button below.
