Process for the purification of waste waters with activated carbon

A process for the purification of waste water containing dissolved organic carbon contaminants which comprises A. PASSING THE WASTE WATER UPWARDLY THROUGH A COLUMN OF ACTIVATED CARBON PARTICLES, B. DETERMINING THE TOTAL ORGANIC CARBON CONTENT OF THE WATER BEFORE IT ENTERS THE COLUMN AND SIMULTANEOUSLY AT A LOCATION THAT IS BETWEEN 30 AND 70% OF THE TOTAL HEIGHT OF THE CARBON PARTICLES IN THE COLUMN, C. CONTINUOUSLY WITHDRAWING THE SPENT CARBON PARTICLES FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE COLUMN AT SUCH A RATE AS TO MAINTAIN AN ESSENTIALLY CONSTANT PRESELECTED DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TOTAL ORGANIC CARBON CONTENT OF THE WATER AS IT ENTERS THE COLUMN AND AT THE PRESELECTED LOCATION THAT IS BETWEEN 30 AND 70% OF THE HEIGHT OF THE CARBON PARTICLES IN THE COLUMN, D. CONTINUOUSLY INTRODUCING FRESH ACTIVATED CARBON PARTICLES OR REACTIVATED CARBON PARTICLES AT THE TOP OF THE COLUMN AT SUCH A RATE AS TO COMPENSATE FOR THOSE WITHDRAWN AT THE BOTTOM OF THE COLUMN, AND E. REMOVING THE PURIFIED WATER AT THE TOP OF THE COLUMN.