Purificn of water - by activated carbon

Treatment is effected in an adsorption column of multi-stage fluidised beds. The water is treated by stripping it of the unwanted components by adsorbing them on the activated carbon. The latter is discharged from the column to be regenerated and brought backed into circulation for re-use. By the combination of the fluidised beds and the adsorption column, the treatment can be effected at a low cost. The solid materials can flow from the top to the bottom whilst maintaining the beds in a stable state. The used activated carbon is first heated in the fluidised state to 100.700 degrees C., in a desorption chamber, by means of a gas fuel for 5-180 minutes, so as to desorb the moisture and the adsorbate. The carbon is next introduced into an activation chamber and heated indirectly to 500-1000 degrees C by very hot combustion gases, whilst being fluidised by steam, or a gas at a high temp. contg. steam, for 1-180 minutes. The raw water, introduced at the lower part of the column, enters successively into contact with the carbon in the fluidised beds where it is stripped of the undesirable constituents and evacuated in the form of purified water.