Advanced wastewater treatment with powdered activated carbon (PAC) is a promising option to reduce OMP emissions (Altmann et al., 2014, Boehler et al., 2012, Meinel et al., 2015). Adsorption of OMP onto PAC requires sufficient mixing and contact time, typically provided in additional reactors for post-treatment after the secondary sedimentation ( Boehler et al., 2012 , Mailler et al., 2015 , Margot et al., 2013 ).
Activated carbon (both powdered activated carbon (PAC) and granular activated carbon (GAC)) has been applied for a long time in water and wastewater treatment due to its large surface area for adsorption (Tri, 2002; Jafarinejad, 2015e). Powdered activated carbon has a diameter of less than 200 mesh (Tri, 2002). Activated sludge treatment with PAC is similar to the conventional AS process, but in this process, PAC is added into the aeration tank or mixed liquor.