Solid-State Circuits 33

Processes for the treatment of water that is contaminated with organic compounds, in which the contaminated water is subjected to a continuous countercurrent multistage treatment with particulate activated carbon in a plurality of tanks in each of which a high slurry density, for example, between 50 and 200 grams per liter of the slurry, is maintained. Particles of activated carbon, intermediate in size between those used heretofore in such processes for the reduction of the organic-carbon content of such wastewaters, are advantageously used in these processes. The processes are particularly useful for rendering industrial wastewaters suitable for resuse.