A Process involving Highly Sensitive Activated Carbon-based Adsorbers as “Police Filters” to Maintain BPA Concentration in Water below 2.5 ppb

Inadequate treatment processes in conventional wastewater treatment plants led to an accumulation of endocrine disruptors (EDs), including bisphenol A (BPA) in the environment, which can cause harmful health effects even at trace concentrations. In response to this, regulatory measures have been implemented, culminating in a comprehensive ban. However, environmental contamination and associated health risks persist due to the compound’s stability and widespread use. To address these challenges, activated carbon-based adsorber materials were developed as “police filters” and tested in a fluidized bed reactor system (FBR). In contrast to other studies, the presented materials demonstrated considerable BPA adsorption efficiency at environmentally relevant trace concentrations to maintain exit concentration below 2.5 ppb (EFSA limit for BPA in water). They could be regenerated with acceptable performance losses, enabling repeated use and reducing material consumption. The integrated approach, combining adsorbent regeneration with precise quantification, represents a sustainable, cost-effective, and scalable solution for the removal of BPA from water. In addition, several strategies for the recovery and regeneration of BPA contaminated dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) were explored, with the goal of establishing a circular system in which key intermediate and end products can be reintroduced into industrial and economic value chains.