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Active Carbon Regeneration Challenge

BY FADERCO X Ghardaia University

Open Innovation, Intrapreneuriat
Recyclage et gestion des déchets, Protection de l’environnement, Industrie, Énergies
Startup, Étudiant, Chercheur
2026-05-27
Algérie

The WellTech Center by FADERCO is launching, in exclusive partnership with the University of Ghardaia a challenge dedicated to advancing sustainable industrial transformation in Algeria. This initiative invites students and professors to develop solutions that combine technical rigor, environmental responsibility, and market relevance. 

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Purpose of the Challenge

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Through this challenge, FADERCO reinforces its commitment to open innovation and investment in academic talent, fostering collaborations that deliver high-impact solutions aligned with national industrial goals and the “Made in DZ’’ philosophy. The aim is to advance a circular-economy approach by developing technologies that reactivate and reintegrate spent activated carbon, preserving its performance and promoting durability, resource efficiency, and sustainable industrial practices.

Thematic Focus

Item 1
Valorization and Regeneration of Activated Carbon

FADERCO’s industrial process generates approximately 3 tons of activated carbon waste per year, with 9 tons currently accumulated. In the production of cellulose wadding, activated carbon plays a critical role in the treatment of liquid effluents. Its exceptional adsorptive properties make it essential for filtering and purifying water and other liquids used or generated during manufacturing, thereby helping protect natural resources.
Over time, however, activated carbon gradually loses its effectiveness as its pores become saturated with organic and inorganic contaminants. Regeneration is therefore necessary to restore its adsorption capacity and reduce the environmental burden associated with waste carbon disposal. Regenerating existing carbon is considerably more sustainable than purchasing new carbon, as it reduces the need for coal extraction, processing, and long-distance importation. It also prevents the accumulation of large volumes of spent carbon, which, if discarded, can pose risks of pollutant release or require costly hazardous-waste management. In industrial contexts, efficient regeneration can lower operational costs, minimize supply chain dependency, and support a circular production model. This challenge seeks solutions that enhance the efficiency, scalability, and environmental performance of this regeneration process.

Technical Context

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The activated carbon used by FADERCO is GPP-20, a coal-based, steam-activated granular activated carbon designed for industrial liquid-phase applications.
Key attributes include:


•    Consistent quality ensured by strict manufacturing control
•    High availability in large quantities
•    Long-standing performance in wastewater treatment and remediation
•    Capacity to remove COD – Chemical Oxygen Demand, TOC – Total Organic Carbon, 

AOX – Adsorbable Organic Halogens, aromatic compounds, pesticides, and chlorinated organics


Typical properties:
•    Bed density: 450 kg/m³
•    Hardness number: 90
•    Surface area (N₂ BET): 72
•    Mean particle diameter: 1.1 mm
Solutions must therefore take into account the physical and chemical characteristics of GPP-20, its typical degradation patterns, and its operational role within existing effluent treatment units.

Requirements for Proposed Solutions

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Solutions should aim to:
•    Regenerate or valorize significant volumes of used activated carbon
•    Restore or enhance adsorption efficiency without damaging the carbon’s original porosity or structural integrity
•    Integrate seamlessly into FADERCO’s existing production cycle, with minimal disruption
•    Offer environmental, economic, and operational advantages over current practices
•    Scale to industry-level throughput and comply with safety standards related to oxygen depletion in confined spaces

Evaluation Criteria

Priority will be given to solutions at the prototype or operational stage. Submissions will be assessed based on:

Relevance and importance of the problem addressed

Quality and feasibility of the proposed solution

Stage of development and technological maturity

Innovative dimension, including potential contributions to sustainability and inclusion

Team qualifications and relevant experience

Expected environmental and industrial impact

Clarity and rigor of the presentation

Timeline

  • Application
  • Selection and Deliberation
  • Mentoring and Prototyping
  • Final presentation
  • December 2nd 2025

    Call for applications to entrepreneurs and student for the Active Carbon Challenge, exclusively through the platform Soolvit.