TJB Coal Power Plant Seawater Desalination Pretreatment Using Granular Activated Carbon

2025-07-30

Location: Central Java, Indonesia

Industry: Power Plant & Seawater Desalination

Application: RO pretreatment wastewater polishing

Product Used: Coconut shell-based granular activated carbon (iodine value ≥1000 mg/g)

Project Start: August 2024

Project Overview

The project involves the treatment of high-strength wastewater generated from the backwash cycle of a seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) pretreatment system at a coastal coal-fired power plant. The water contains elevated levels of suspended solids and organics, including humic substances and low-molecular-weight acids. Granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration was integrated downstream of physical clarification to further reduce organic loading and improve SDI stability.

Water Quality Parameters

TSS (Total Suspended Solids): 155 mg/L (peak design)

TOC (Total Organic Carbon): up to 5 mg/L

Filtrate TOC: ≤0.75 mg/L

Organic removal (UV254 method): ≥85%

SDI (Silt Density Index): consistently ≤3, meeting SWRO feedwater specs (SDI <5)

Process Design

Carbon Type: High-iodine GAC, coconut shell origin, mesh size 8*30
Filtration Mode: Gravity-fed media filtration
Post-treatment use: Reuse within plant or discharge to marine environment

Outcome

Significant reduction in membrane fouling risks
Extended membrane cleaning cycles and improved system uptime
Stable operation during seasonal water quality fluctuations

Granular Activated Carbon

Coal Based Activated Carbon

Coconut Shell Activated Carbon

Pellet Activated Carbon

Wood Based Activated Carbon

Solvent Recovery Activated Carbon

Impregnated Activated Carbon

Honeycomb Zeolite Molecular Sieve

Granular Activated Carbon

Coal Based Activated Carbon

Coconut Shell Activated Carbon

Pellet Activated Carbon

Wood Based Activated Carbon

Solvent Recovery Activated Carbon

Impregnated Activated Carbon

Honeycomb Zeolite Molecular Sieve

TJB Coal Power Plant Seawater Desalination Pretreatment Using Granular Activated Carbon

TJB Coal Power Plant Seawater Desalination Pretreatment Using Granular Activated Carbon