One purpose of activated carbon in industrial wastewater treatment is the removal of what?

• A. Organic pollutants
• B. Inorganic salts
• C. Heavy metals
• D. Nutrients

Answer: (A)

Activated carbon works mainly through adsorption, taking dissolved organic compounds out of wastewater by sticking them to its vast, porous surface. Its high surface area and relatively nonpolar character make it especially effective at capturing organic pollutants such as solvents, dyes, and other colored or aromatic organics that are not easily removed by simple filtration or settling. Inorganic salts, which are charged ions, don’t adsorb as readily onto activated carbon and thus remain dissolved unless other treatment steps are used. Heavy metals may be removed only with specialized conditions or additional processes like ion exchange or precipitation, and nutrients like nitrates or phosphates are not efficiently removed by plain activated carbon. So the primary purpose in this context is the removal of organic pollutants.