- Activated carbon – a form of carbon processed to have low-volume pores that increase the surface area available for adsorption or chemical reactions.
- Adsorption – the adhesion of molecules or atoms from a gas or liquid to a surface. This process creates a film on the surface of the adsorbent (liquid or solid).
- BAC – Biologically Activated Carbon
- BOD – Biological Oxygen Demand
- Desorption – a phenomenon whereby a substance is released from or through a surface.
- DOC – Dissolved Organic Carbon
- EBCT – Empty Bed Contact Time
- GAC – Granular Activated Carbon
- Iodine number – is the mass of iodine in grams that is consumed by 100 grams of a chemical substance. Iodine numbers are often used to determine the number of micropores in carbon.
- Macropores – large-sized pores in the substance
- Mesopores – medium-sized pores in the substance
- Micropores – small-sized pores in the substance
- MTZ – Mass Transfer Zone
- NOM – Natural Organic Matter
- PAC – Powder Activated Carbon
- Pesticide – a substance or a mixture of substances that are meant to control pests.
- Sorption – includes absorption and adsorption.
- Specific surface – is a measure of external surface area of an object. The surface area is measured using BET analysis (Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) theory) and is an important property defining the efficiency of activated carbon.
- Reactivation/regeneration – a process in which the original properties of activated carbon are restored with minimal losses.
