Water Sector

Conclusive business case for circular application of powdered carbon

The high-value powdered carbon that Dunea uses in drinking water production can perfectly well be given a second life as an adsorbent in the treatment of household wastewater. This is the outcome of the recently completed TKI research project. ‘By using the powdered carbon’s residual capacity at a water authority, we can move towards further sustainability and cost reduction for all stakeholders,’ says Martijn Bovée of AquaMinerals. ‘We’ve got a great circular business case.’

The TKI project, ‘Reuse of activated carbon for the removal of organic micropollutants’, used laboratory tests to demonstrate that powdered carbon from drinking water production and lactose production (dairy industry) can, technically speaking, be used for the removal of organic micropollutants in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Dunea uses powdered carbon for the production of drinking water, which generates powdered carbon sludge as a residual. The investigations, under laboratory conditions, showed that powdered carbon sludge is capable of binding organic micropollutants (residual adsorption) and does not release them following binding (desorption).

Read the full impact story. (In Dutch)

  • TKI Water Technology
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