The electrochemical regeneration of real spent activated carbons (AC) used in drinking water treatment plants was studied at different reactor scales. The electrochemical regeneration was carried out in a 6 g filter-press cell and a 3.5 kg batch reactor, allowing the scaling-up of the process between the two electrolytic reactors. The effect of the electrolyte, the divided/undivided compartment configuration and the current density were studied in the filter-press cell. The effect of compartment configuration and the influence of the regeneration time were studied in the scaled-up reactor. A current density of 0.025 A cm⁻² was used and the electrodes were Pt/Ti as anode and Pt/Ti and stainless-steel as cathode. The ACs were characterized by N₂ adsorption isotherms to analyse the recovery of porosity and TPD-MS to analyse the AC surface after the electrochemical treatment. In filter-press cell, a recovery of the surface area of 96% was achieved after 8 h of treatment, by introducing the AC in the cathodic compartment using 0.05 M H₂SO₄ solution as electrolyte. In the 3.5 kg electrochemical reactor, 95% of the pristine AC surface area was recovered. Thus, electrochemical methods can provide a green alternative to the regeneration of spent AC.

在不同的反应器规模上研究了饮用水处理厂中使用的废活性炭（AC）的电化学再生。电化学再生在6 g压滤池和3.5 kg间歇式反应器中进行，从而可以扩大两个电解反应器之间的工艺规模。在压滤池中研究了电解质的影响，分隔/未分隔的隔室配置以及电流密度。在放大反应器中研究了隔室构型的影响和再生时间的影响。使用0.025A cm ^-2的电流密度，并且电极以Pt / Ti作为阳极并且以Pt / Ti和不锈钢作为阴极。AC的特征是N ₂吸附等温线分析孔隙率的恢复，TPD-MS分析电化学处理后的交流表面。在压滤池中，通过使用0.05 MH ₂ SO ₄溶液作为电解质将AC引入阴极室，处理8 h后可实现96％的表面积恢复。在3.5 kg的电化学反应器中，回收了95％的原始AC表面积。因此，电化学方法可以为废旧AC的再生提供绿色替代方案。