The loaded carbon is first washed with tap-water until the bulk of the wood chips contained in it were removed. It is acid-washed with 3-5 % HCI solution at a temperature of 80-90°C for 20 minutes. The acid washing step is necessary to remove elements such as Ni, Cu, Ca, and others which were adsorbed during the adsorption stage. The acid washed carbon was washed with distilled water to a pH of 7 before being dried. The carbon can be pre-soaked in a caustic solution for 20 minutes before the elution.

The experimental set-up for desorption consists of a reservoir in which the desorption solution (eluant) is stored, a pump, a heating element, an elution column, a pressure gauge and regulating valve and a cooling unit. The reservoir is a tank of 10-15 liters volume. The solution is circulated through the column by a pump at the flow rate of 2-3 l/hr. The solution that is pumped from the reservoir is first heated by a heating element before going through the elution column. The temperature of the column is monitored by a thermocouple, and controlled using a controller.

The column is made of stainless steel. The carbon is placed in a wire-mesh basket before being placed into the column. The basket has been designed to fit tightly in the inner diameter of the column.

The pressure is also monitored by a pressure gauge. In all experiments the pressure can be modified (e.g. 200 to 260kPa) to keep steam in the form of liquid at temperatures at and above 100°C.  Before the solution flows out at the exit, it is cooled by the use of a cooling unit.

The eluant may not recirculated. Samples of the eluate were taken at the exit of the cooling unit and each sample may be taken for 5 seconds. Time of zero is assigned to the moment when the first drop of the eluate come out of the exit of the cooling unit. Samples should be taken at specific time intervals over a period of time (e.g. 4 to 5 hours) during the elution. Alternatively, the eluant can be recirculated and one sample can be taken after a specific period of time.