Bioregeneration of spent activated carbon: effect of physico-chemical parameters

487-492Microbial regeneration of spent activated carbon provides an efficient and economic biological treatment process employing synergic combination of adsorption and biodegradation. Extent of bioregeneration can be quantified using direct determination of substrate content on adsorbent, indirect measurement of substrate consumption by measuring carbon dioxide production and measurement of oxygen uptake. Bioregeneration is influenced by type of activation of carbon, porosity and particle size, microbial uptake rate, adsorbate concentration, contact time, and biodegradability of sorbed compounds. This paper reviews various aspects of bioregeneration of activated carbon with special reference to its various governing parameters