Activated Carbon: Transforming Sewage and Wastewater Treatment in Australia

According to UNESCO, around 80% of the world’s wastewater is discharged without adequate treatment, and Australia is not exempt. With urban growth, ongoing water scarcity, and climate change accelerating, Australia faces increasing pressure to improve how it treats sewage and wastewater.

As focus shifts towards more sustainable water management practices, activated carbon has emerged as a transformative solution. Its adaptability and efficiency are vital in wastewater treatment, offering enhanced contaminant removal while aligning with environmental sustainability goals.

Challenges in Sewage and Wastewater Treatment in Australia

Australia’s sewage wastewater treatment systems are required to meet stringent regulations, including the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines (ADWG) and directives set by the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA). These frameworks ensure treated wastewater meets safety standards for reuse, environmental discharge, or even potable reuse in advanced treatment systems. 

These guidelines are part of the National Water Quality Management Strategy and are designed to establish a framework for safe, high-quality drinking water. It specifies the levels of PFAS a person can consume in drinking water daily and over a lifetime without significant health hazards.

Traditional treatment methods - including sedimentation, chlorination, and biological digestion - often fail to remove low-concentration contaminants like PFAS, pharmaceuticals, and taste/odour compounds. With growing public concern over water quality, utilities are increasingly challenged by stricter regulations and the necessity to adopt more effective and sustainable treatment solutions.

Activated Carbon in Wastewater Treatment

Being a porous material, activated carbon is highly beneficial for wastewater treatment. It facilitates the removal of contaminants through adsorption, a process where impurities adhere to its surface. In wastewater treatment, both granular activated carbon (GAC) and powdered activated carbon (PAC) effectively target pollutants that traditional methods often overlook. The use of activated carbon in wastewater treatment is notably effective. Our sustainably produced activated carbon is engineered to address these very challenges, especially in tertiary treatment and PFAS removal.

Key applications include:

• Filtration systems to eliminate substances responsible for unwanted colour, odour, and taste.

• Removal of micropollutants such as pesticides, pharmaceuticals, and endocrine-disrupting compounds.

• Improving the effectiveness of tertiary treatment stages in advanced wastewater treatment plants.

• Targeted adsorption of persistent contaminants like PFAS to protect downstream ecosystems.

• Improving compliance with stricter water discharge regulations and reuse criteria.

• Supporting biological treatment by lowering toxic load, improving microbial health, and increasing plant asset life.

• Flexible integration through both granular and powdered carbon systems to meet various operational needs.
  

Benefits of Activated Carbon for Wastewater Treatment Systems

The use of activated carbon provides several benefits in treating wastewater. Some of these include:

• Effective Adsorption: Activated carbon possesses a unique ability to adsorb organic compounds, heavy metals, chlorine, and various other contaminants from water. Its large surface area allows it to capture and retain these substances, leading to a significant improvement in water quality.

• Environmental Benefits: Activated carbon can be produced from renewable sources such as agricultural by-products or coconut shells, making it a sustainable choice for water treatment. Its capability to be reactivated and reused helps minimise waste. Bygen’s patented Low Temperature Activation (LTA) technology enables the production of high-performance activated carbon with a significantly lower carbon footprint.

• Cost-effective: The cost-effectiveness and versatility of activated carbon make it ideal for both large-scale municipal facilities and smaller decentralised treatment systems.
  

Innovations in Australia’s Treatment Systems

As part of wastewater treatment, Australia's treatment system is designed with innovation. Some examples include:

Western Australia’s Groundwater Replenishment Scheme in Perth incorporates advanced treatment technologies, such as activated carbon filtration, to recharge aquifers with high-quality recycled water. Recently, it achieved the milestone of 100 billion litres of purified recycled water.

In Victoria, facilities like the Werribee and Eastern Treatment Plants have enhanced their tertiary treatment stages through PAC dosing to comply with EPA regulations and water recycling standards.

Bygen’s Contribution to Australia’s Wastewater Future

As Australia’s wastewater treatment sector evolves to meet higher environmental and public health standards, local solutions matter more than ever. At Bygen, we provide high-performance activated carbon made from renewable agricultural by-products, using our patented Low Temperature Activation (LTA) process.

Our materials offer strong adsorption performance for pollutants such as PFAS, pharmaceuticals, taste-and-odour compounds, and emerging micropollutants. Designed for both granular and powdered applications, Bygen’s carbon enables efficient treatment in tertiary polishing stages, emergency response dosing, and decentralised systems - all while supporting a lower-carbon, fossil-free future for Australia’s water sector.

Conclusion

The wastewater treatment process using activated carbon has been a major success. Its ability to regenerate and reuse supports Australia’s economic paradigm, making it an essential component in sustainable wastewater purification.