HyPURE® Activated Carbon
A Comprehensive Range of Proprietary HyPURE® Activated Carbon Filters for Wastewater Treatment
At Hydroflux, we provide customised activated carbon solutions for water and wastewater treatment applications. For wastewater, our expertise spans the design and construction of filtration systems, the supply of a variety of high-quality activated carbon media, as well as support for system maintenance, media replacement, and process optimisation. Our systems are available in a range of vessel sizes, capable of handling any flow, and always tailored to meet your specific needs.
Applications of Activated Carbon in Wastewater Treatment
Granular Activated carbon is used across a broad spectrum of applications, including:
- Organic Contaminant Removal – Adsorbs oils, greases, and dissolved organic compounds
- Color Removal – Eliminates dyes and tannins from industrial effluents
- Heavy Metal Adsorption – Binds metals such as lead, mercury, and cadmium
- Chlorine and Chloramine Removal – Protects downstream processes from disinfectant interference
- Pharmaceutical and Micropollutant Removal – Captures residual drugs and endocrine disruptors
- PFAS and VOC Removal – Reduces per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and volatile organic compounds
- Biological Treatment Enhancement – Supports biofilm growth in hybrid treatment systems
What is Activated Carbon?
Activated Carbon is a form of carbon that has been processed to create an extensive network of pores and is typically derived from natural materials such as coconut shells, wood, or coal that provide a highly porous structure and an incredibly large surface area. This unique property makes it ideal for adsorbing a wide range of organic and inorganic compounds from water.
The effectiveness of Activated Carbon lies in its adsorption process. Adsorption occurs when impurities in water are attracted to and held on the surface of the Activated Carbon particles. This process is driven by physical and chemical interactions, allowing Activated Carbon to effectively remove:
- Chlorine and chloramines
- Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
- Pesticides and herbicides
- Pharmaceuticals and personal care product compounds
- Taste and odour-causing compounds
- Heavy metals (when impregnated with specific agents).
The efficiency of activated carbon is influenced by factors such as water temperature, flow rate, contact time, and the specific contaminants present. Activated Carbon filtration will generally require pretreatment using multimedia filtration.
Click here for more information on Hydroflux multimedia filters.
Advantages of Using Hydroflux HyPURE Activated Carbon Systems
- High Efficiency: Removes a wide range of contaminants, including metals, PFAS, organics, and many other compounds
- Eco-Friendly: Made from natural materials and recyclable in some applications
- Customisable: Available in various forms and tailored to specific applications
- Cost-Effective: A low-cost solution for many water treatment needs
Activated Carbon FAQs
Granular activated carbon (GAC) is a specific type of activated carbon with larger particle sizes (0.2–5 mm), making it ideal for dynamic applications like water treatment where the GAC is installed inside filters. The majorityof Hydroflux activated carbon systems are based on the use of GAC. In contrast, activated carbon is a broader term encompassing various forms, including powdered, granular, and some pelletised types. Powdered activated carbon (PAC) is typically used by mixing it directly into the liquid that requires treatment. After sufficient contact time to allow adsorption of contaminants, the PAC is removed through processes like sedimentation, coagulation, or filtration.
Activated carbon is highly effective at removing a variety of contaminants, including chlorine, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), pesticides, herbicides, heavy metals, and certain pathogens. It also helps improve the taste and odour of water. Additionally, activated carbon is often used as a pretreatment stage before membrane filtration to enhance system efficiency.
The lifespan of activated carbon depends on factors such as raw water quality and the types of contaminants being removed. It needs to be replaced or regenerated when it becomes saturated with contaminants. Hydroflux calculates the lifespan of activated carbon filters and sizes systems accordingly to ensure appropriate replacement schedules, maximising efficiency and performance.
Activated carbon filtration systems require minimal maintenance. Regular monitoring of system performance is essential to ensure it is effectively removing contaminants. The key maintenance task is replacing or regenerating the activated carbon when it becomes saturated with contaminants. Additionally, periodic inspections of the system’s components, such as flow rates and vessel integrity, help ensure optimal performance. Hydroflux offer service, maintenace and replacement media to all of our clients
Design and Construct Capabilities
HyPURE Activated Carbon systems are often integrated as part of a broader treatment process involving pretreatment and /or post-treatment processes. Hydroflux has the expertise and capability to deliver design-and-construct projects that incorporate a wide range of complimentary technologies, including dissolved air flotation (DAF), clarification, multimedia filtration, ion exchange and membrane systems.
Hydroflux’s team includes qualified civil, mechanical, chemical, and electrical engineers, as well as experienced project managers, site supervisors, commissioning engineers, and service technicians. With offices located across Australia, Hydroflux ensures a strong local presence throughout the duration of every project. All projects are carried out under externally certified occupational health and safety and environmental management systems.
Hydroflux designs and constructs comprehensive wastewater treatment systems that incorporate various types of processing equipment, including physical/chemical, biological, and tertiary treatment technologies to enable water reuse. The above 3D drawing shows a Hydroflux treatment plant incorporating dissolved air flotation using HyDAF, HyPURE Multimedia Filtration and HyX ion exchange.
Sustainable Solutions
As Australia’s first certified carbon-neutral water and wastewater chemical supply and service business, we focus on sustainability. Developing and delivering sustainable solutions for treatment plant operation and maintenance is at the core of what we do. Our equipment is the most sustainable in the Australian and New Zealand market and is not just effective at protecting our valuable water resources but also carbon-neutral. Click here to find out what this means for you.
