Research Progress on Thermal Regeneration Technology for Saturated Activated Carbon

• • Thermal regeneration technologies (multi-hearth furnace, rotary kiln, superheated steam, microwave, solar) achieve desorption efficiencies up to 90% at temperatures 800–900°C, but each has trade-offs in energy consumption and carbon loss (e.g., 5–10% per cycle). • • Regeneration efficiency is critically dependent on temperature and atmosphere: inert gas (N2) at 850°C restores >95% of original adsorption capacity, while oxidizing atmospheres (air) can cause 10–15% carbon burn-off, reducing yield. • • Purge gas flow rate significantly impacts pollutant removal: optimal flow rates (e.g., 200–400 mL/min) enhance desorption kinetics, but excessive rates (>600 mL/min) lead to thermal gradients and incomplete regeneration. • • Combined regeneration technologies (e.g., ultrasonic-thermal, microwave-steam) show synergistic effects, improving regeneration efficiency by 15–20% compared to single methods, while reducing energy consumption by up to 30%.