Does Ozone Reactivate Carbon?

Activated carbon is normally regenerated with high temperature, high pressure steam. Ozone will oxidize the adsorped pollutants, but it will also oxidize the activated carbon. Remember: carbon has an extremely strong affinity for oxygen.

I think I understand your comment, maybe if I explain the situation you would be able to help me with my problem.

Air scrubbers in our facility are pulling organic chemicals from the air through activated carbon filters. As you can imagine these filters are constantly being replaced, at great expense. We are hoping to find a cost effective way treat the carbon filter to extend their life, other than high temperature/pressure treatment which is cost prohibitive. Upon investigating possible methods we ran across a company that claims exposing the used carbon to Ozone will reactivate it by cleaning out the pollutants trapped in the carbon.

My manufacturing engineer's understanding of Chemistry is far too short to wager a guess if this works or not. I understand what you say about carbon reacting when exposed to Ozone, but would the carbon be reactivated, or would there be another process needed after the exposure to clean off what the Ozone left behind. Actually what does the Ozone leave behind? Carbon monoxide gas and O2? Do you have any idea what the "white residue" might be that I have read collects on the carbon after exposure to Ozone. Could that be the oxidized remnants of the pollutants the Ozone came in contact with? If it is, is there a second process to clean it?

The more answers I get the more questions I seem to have. The more questions I have, the more I think of. Maybe I should just start a PhD program in chemistry.

The ozone will form carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide with the carbon. The white residue is oxidized impurities that must be removed before the carbon can be reused. I'm not sure, but I think the next step would be to rinse the carbon with water to wash off the impurities. I hope this helps.

Hi,

your scrubbers get also some dust that is partially inorganic and bacteria and the solvents have some (low) inorganic content. This is left as oxide (may be some nitride or carbide) after treatment with ozone. As long as this is not blocking the absorption process and is not contaminating your facility you can let it where it is.

Ozone regeneration may be a good idea but make sure that there are no parts to be made brittle by the treatment.

Another possibility is vacuum degassing as these organics evaporate and condensate.

RHABE

well guys i have started working on ozone oxidation of activated carbon . will be able to address all the doubts soon.