Polluted effluent is added into the bottom of the cell and mixed with the adsorbent in the adsorption zone 1.1 where adsorption of the pollutants onto the surface of the adsorbent occurs. Mixing between the adsorbent and the polluted effluent is promoted by air spargers at the base of the cell which also facilitate the migration of the adsorbent upwards and into the cell's sedimentation zone.