This study focusses on the regeneration of spent activated carbon sourced from a wastewater treatment facility using both conventional and microwave reactors with similar reaction parameters. The active carbon was characterized by iodine and methylene blue adsorption as a measure of micro- and mesoporosity. The process parameters were adjusted to identify the influence of intensifying operating parameter on the effectiveness of the regeneration process. Optimal activity was observed in the sample regenerated at 600 °C for 2 h in CO₂. There was a 17.1 % and 141 % increase in iodine and methylene cyanine adsorption values, respectively, versus the spent activated carbon. This indicates restoration of ∼83 % and ∼90 % of the adsorptive capabilities of fresh activated carbon. The adsorption properties of regenerated carbon are enhanced in microwave reactors under CO₂ atmosphere due to the benefits of microwave heating in expediting the thermal desorption of adsorbates via devolatilization and partial oxidation with minimal disruption to the carbon’s pore structure. This demonstrates the feasibility and advantage of microwave reactors for reactivating spent active carbon and the importance of reaction parameter optimization for obtaining regenerated active carbon with enhanced quality.

这项研究的重点是使用具有相似反应参数的常规反应器和微波反应器，对废水处理设施产生的废活性炭进行再生。活性炭的特征在于碘和亚甲基蓝的吸附，作为微孔和中孔的度量。调整工艺参数以识别强化操作参数对再生工艺效率的影响。在CO _2中600°C再生2 h的样品中观察到最佳活性。与废活性炭相比，碘和亚甲基花青的吸附值分别增加了17.1％和141％。这表明新鲜活性炭的吸附能力恢复了约83％和90％。在微波反应器中，在CO ₂气氛下，再生碳的吸附特性得到了增强，这是由于微波加热可通过脱挥发分和部分氧化加快吸附物的热脱附，同时对碳的孔结构造成的破坏最小，因此具有一定的优势。这证明了微波反应器用于再活化废活性炭的可行性和优势，以及为了获得质量更高的再生活性炭而优化反应参数的重要性。