ACTIVATED CARBON-BASED BIOLOGICAL FLUIDIZED-BEDS FOR CONTAMINATED WATER AND WASTE-WATER TREATMENT - A STATE-OF-THE-ART REVIEW

The ability of the biological fluidized bed (BEB) process configuratio n to intensify biological reaction rates through accumulation of high concentrations of active biomass has brought attention to the technolo gy for the past twenty years. Over 80 commercial, media based BFB reac tors have been installed in North America and Europe. Currently there is much interest in systems in which granular activated carbon (GAC) i s used as the fluidizing media for treatment of contaminated waters an d wastewaters. This paper provides a historical review of the developm ent of the technology together with information on design and commerci al application of the technology in North America.