The treatment of effluents originating from individual domestic water consumption of some 200 litres a day is a high-priority for local authorities. Effluents at municipal treatment plants are purified according to strict standards before being released into the natural environment.

Similarly, industry is also concerned with the ecological impact of their waste products (both gaseous and liquid) on the environment. Purification comes at a cost, but is crucial to meeting the demands and requirements of the consumer.

1. PACs

Powder activated carbons injected into activated sludge basins allow a greater degree of elimination of carbonized pollution and a better sludge decantability which is recovered in the form of sludge and incinerated.

PICA's PACs offer excellent kinetics and an elevated activation level able to eliminate numerous pollutants.

2. GACs:

Granular activated carbons are used in the form of a filter (in the biological basin); the effluent percolates across the filter bed and draws on the material's natural macroporosity. This characteristic of GACs promotes bacteriological sedimentation and the breakdown of organic materials contained in water even at low temperature (lower than 10° C for several months). Reduction in the quantity of induced organic carbon in turn reduces the risks of biofilm growth in networks, offering improved organic stability of the treated water.

Furthermore, since materials biodegraded in this way do not enter the carbon adsorption process, carbon lifetime is extended (up to 8 years) and the frequency of carbon replacement reduced.