在宾夕法尼亚州匹兹堡的Hays矿井水处理厂使用的颗粒活性炭（GAC）上进行了热再生。这款FiltersOrb 200作为过滤介质吸附器已经使用了大约三年，其中含有1.8%的钙，在热再生过程中起到催化剂的作用。有了这种现场加载的tact钙，再生能够将废GAC恢复到与原始GAC相同的孔结构和表面积。 在热再生之前，无需在酸中清洗废GAC。测试了几个再生变量，包括热解温度（650-950C）、氧化温度（650-950C）、氧化剂气体（蒸汽和CO2）、氧化剂流速和氧化程度。所有达到目标表观密度0.43的再生显示出相同的表面积和孔结构，除了那些在低温（650-750C）下同时使用蒸汽和CO2进行的再生:这些再生产生的碳具有较小的微孔体积和表面积。

Thermal regenerations were conducted on a granular activated carbon (GAC) which had become spent at the Hays Mine water treatment plant in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This Filtrasorb 200 had served as filter media adsorber for about three years, and contained 1.8% calcium, which acts as a catalyst during thermal regeneration. With this field- loaded calcium in tact, regeneration was able to restore the spent GAC to the same pore structure and surface area that was exhibited by virgin GACs. Washing the spent GAC in acid prior to thermal regeneration was not necessary. Several regeneration variables were tested, including pyrolysis temperature (650-950C), oxidation temperature (650-950C), oxidant gas (steam and CO2), oxidant flow rate, and oxidation extent. All regenerations taken to a targeted apparent density of 0.43 displayed the same surface area and pore structure, except those conducted at low temperatures (650-750C) with both steam and CO2 together: these produced a carbon with smaller micropore volume and surface area.