Granular Activated Carbon

Where GAC works well 

GAC removes PFAS by adsorption: contaminated water passes through a bed of activated carbon, and PFAS molecules bind to the porous carbon surface. It performs well on long-chain PFAS in relatively clean water, and is a familiar, well-understood technology to design, permit and operate.

In complex matrices such as landfill leachate, high dissolved organic carbon (DOC), ammonia and salts compete with PFAS for adsorption sites. This reduces GAC's capacity for short- and ultra-short-chain PFAS and can bring forward breakthrough, requiring more frequent media replacement than in cleaner water.

That's why GAC often performs best either on simpler streams, or as a polishing stage placed after a primary PFAS-selective technology has already reduced the PFAS and organic load.

Removal performance, replacement frequency and lifecycle cost all depend on your specific water matrix and PFAS profile. Our team can help you evaluate whether GAC, alone or combined with another Chromafora technology, is the most cost-effective long-term solution for your site.