Fenton-driven chemical regeneration of MTBE-spent granular activated carbon - A pilot study

► Granular activated carbon (GAC) was saturated with MTBE, and regenerated with H2O2 and iron under different conditions. ► Iron amendment to the GAC was achieved by amending a ferrous iron solution. ► Chemical oxidation at elevated temperature (50 °C) resulted in greater MTBE removal than ambient temperature (21 °C). ► Continuous H2O2 loading was most time efficient and effective at 50 °C. ► Reaction byproducts were transformed; no detectable loss in MTBE sorption capacity.