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Taste and Odor Removal from Drinking Water
Water & Effluent Treatment

Taste and Odor Removal from Drinking Water

Granular activated carbon removal of taste and odour compounds (geosmin, 2 methylisoborneol, algal toxins) from drinking water supplies affected by seasonal algal blooms and natural sources.

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The Challenge
Seasonal algal blooms in surface water reservoirs release geosmin and 2-methyl isoborneol that are detectable by humans at parts per trillion concentration. Customer complaints to the utility spike during bloom events; the regulator monitors the response.
Quick Answer

Taste and odour removal from drinking water uses granular activated carbon polishing to remove geosmin, 2 methyl isoborneol (MIB), and algal metabolites that cause the earthy, musty taste perceived at parts per trillion concentration. EBCT 8 to 15 minutes delivers outlet below the perception threshold (5 to 10 ng/L).

Taste and Odor Removal from Drinking Water

Geosmin and MIB Are Detectable at Parts per Trillion

Geosmin (1,10-dimethyl-trans-9-decalol) and 2-methyl isoborneol (MIB) are organic compounds released by cyanobacteria during seasonal algal blooms in surface water reservoirs. Humans detect them at concentrations of 5 to 10 ng/L (parts per trillion), significantly below most regulatory limits but well above the consumer complaint threshold. The earthy, musty taste they produce triggers customer complaints to the utility and regulator attention.

GAC Removes T&O Compounds Reliably

SorbiTech GAC 1240 removes geosmin and MIB by physical adsorption on the developed micropore structure. The adsorption isotherm is steep at low concentration (Freundlich exponent near 0.2), which means a properly sized GAC bed loads quickly at low residual concentration. Empty bed contact times of 8 to 15 minutes deliver outlet below 5 ng/L from typical bloom event peaks of 50 to 200 ng/L.

Taste and Odor Removal from Drinking Water process equipment

Polishing Bed Configuration

The polishing GAC bed sits downstream of conventional clarification and filtration. The treated water proceeds to disinfection. For utilities with combined T&O plus dissolved organic carbon duty, a longer EBCT (15 to 25 minutes) covers both targets in a single bed.

Reactivation Programme

The SorbiTech GAC is reactivated thermally through the SorbiTech reactivation programme every 12 to 24 months depending on the inlet load and the campaign target. The reactivated carbon returns to service at 85 to 95 percent of virgin activity, lowering the lifecycle cost by 40 to 60 percent versus single use. Sector coverage is municipal water treatment.

Selection Guidance

GAC 1240 in fixed bed contactor sized for EBCT 8 to 15 minutes (for geosmin and MIB), 15 to 25 minutes for combined T&O plus DOC duty. Reactivation every 12 to 24 months.

How SorbiTech Solves It

A Specified, Verified Solution

Define the duty

We capture your process conditions: flow, composition, pressure, temperature, and the target outlet specification.

Select media & configuration

Our engineers recommend the adsorbent grade and system type that meet the duty with margin.

Size & engineer

Bed sizing, vessel design, and cycle parameters are engineered to your case and documented for approval.

Commission & verify

We support loading, start up, and performance verification against the guarantee.

Recommended Products & Systems

Media

Adsorbents & Media

  1. 01 Activated Carbon GAC 1240 Adsorbent Activated Carbon GAC 1240 Coal based granular activated carbon for dechlorination, taste and odour, and dissolved organics in water. Form 12 × 40 US mesh (0.42–1.70 mm)
  2. 02 Powdered Activated Carbon Adsorbent Powdered Activated Carbon Fine powder carbon for slurry dosing in water treatment, sugar decolorization, pharmaceutical purification, and emergency contamination response. Form 200×325 mesh (45–75 µm)
  3. 03 SorbiTech Activated Alumina Aa 201 Fluoride Removal Defluoridation Adsorbent Activated Alumina AA-201 Smooth sphere activated alumina for compressed air and gas drying, fluoride removal, and guard bed duty. Water Cap. ≥ 18 %
Equipment

Engineered Systems

  1. 01 SorbiTech Activated Carbon Water Contactor Drinking Water GAC Polishing Contactor Equipment Activated Carbon Water Contactor Granular activated carbon fixed bed water contactor for dechlorination, taste and odour, dissolved organic carbon, and emerging contaminant polishing in drinking water and process… Capacity 5–2,000 m³/h
  2. 02 SorbiTech Community Defluoridation Treatment Unit Activated Alumina Fluoride Removal Skid Equipment Community Defluoridation Treatment Unit Containerised activated alumina defluoridation unit for community and decentralised drinking water supply to the WHO guideline of 1.5 mg per litre. Capacity 0.5–50 m³/h
  3. 03 SorbiTech Multi Media Filter Water Treatment Pressure Vessel Mmf Equipment Multi Media Filter Multi media filter for suspended solids and turbidity removal upstream of activated carbon polishing, reverse osmosis, or process reuse in water treatment trains. Capacity 5–500 m³/h
  4. 04 SorbiTech Coalescing Filtration Skid Oil Water Coalescer Filter Package Equipment Coalescing Filtration Skid Two stage coalescer and separator skid that removes fine dispersed hydrocarbons and solids from water down to single digit ppm. It is the polishing… Capacity 2–200 m³/h
Industries

Industries Using This Application

  1. 01 SorbiTech Municipal Water Treatment WWTP Clarifiers GAC Contactor Hall Sector Municipal Water Treatment Activated carbon and activated alumina for taste and odour, dechlorination, and fluoride removal in drinking water treatment. NSF eligible media and complete treatment units.

Specify a Solution for This Application

Provide your process conditions and our team will recommend the grade, configuration, and sizing.

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