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Microbiology of Activated Carbon

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Book cover Drinking Water Microbiology

Part of the book series: Brock/Springer Series in Contemporary Bioscience ((BROCK/SPRINGER))

Abstract

The use of carbon dates back to at least 1550 B.C. where carbon is mentioned in Egyptian papyruses for medicinal uses (Hassler, 1963). Carbon has been used continuously as an absorbent since biblical times (Old Testament, Num. 19:9). Although activated carbon may be made from a number of raw materials (Capelle and de Vooys, 1983), in the 1750’s toasted biscuits were put into the water of the St. Lawrence River to prevent fluxes of the Royal Navy under the command of Sir Charles Saunders (Baker, 1981). About 4 lb. of burnt biscuits were used to a hogshead of water.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. American Water Works Service Company, Inc., Belleville, Illinois, USA

    Mark W. LeChevallier & Gordon A. McFeters

  2. Department of Microbiology Montana State University Bozeman, Montana, USA

    Mark W. LeChevallier & Gordon A. McFeters

Authors
  1. Mark W. LeChevallier
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  2. Gordon A. McFeters
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Microbiology, Montana State University, 59717, Bozeman, Montana, USA

    Gordon A. McFeters

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© 1990 Springer-Verlag New York Inc.

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LeChevallier, M.W., McFeters, G.A. (1990). Microbiology of Activated Carbon. In: McFeters, G.A. (eds) Drinking Water Microbiology. Brock/Springer Series in Contemporary Bioscience. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-4464-6_5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-4464-6_5

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4612-8786-5

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