title: Towards advanced aqueous dye removal processes: a short review on the versatile role of activated carbon.
abstract: During the last decade, several physico-chemical and biological techniques have been developed to remove colour from textile wastewaters. Some of these techniques rely on and many will profit from activated carbon (AC). The role of AC is versatile: (1) it acts as a dye adsorbent, not only in straightforward adsorption processes but also in AC-enhanced coagulation and membrane filtration processes; (2) it generates strong oxidising agents (mostly, hydroxyl (OH) radicals) in electrochemical dye oxidation; (3) it catalyses OH production in advanced oxidation processes; (4) it catalyses anaerobic (azo) dye reduction and supports biofilm growth in microbial dye removal. This paper reviews the role of AC in dye decolourisation, evaluates the feasibility of each AC-amended decolourisation technique and discusses perspectives on future research.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Surface Chemistry and Catalysis, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 23, Box 2461, 3001 Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Gergo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mezohegyi
authors.forename: Frank P
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: van der Zee
authors.forename: Josep
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Font
authors.forename: Agustí
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fortuny
authors.forename: Azael
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fabregat
mesh_terms: D000327:Adsorption; D002244:Carbon / Q000737:chemistry*; D004396:Coloring Agents / Q000737:chemistry*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010126:Ozone / Q000737:chemistry; D055668:Photochemical Processes; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000737:chemistry*; D018508:Water Purification / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D004396:Coloring Agents; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D010126:Ozone; D002244:Carbon