Activated Carbon
What is activated carbon?
Activated carbon, also known as activated charcoal, active carbon, or activated coal, is composed of graphitized carbon microcrystals and ungraphitized amorphous carbonaceous matter, and these carbon microcrystals and carbonaceous matter are interconnected to form the bulk and pore structure of activated carbon.
Activated carbon is typically produced from coal, wood, fruit shells, and other carbonaceous materials through processes of carbonization and activation. It appears black in color, with an abundant internal pore structure, a large specific surface area, abundant surface chemical functional groups, and a robust adsorption capacity. Activated carbon is stable in physical properties and chemical substances, non-toxic, odorless, acid-resistant, alkali-resistant, heat-resistant, insoluble in water, and is widely used as a purifying agent, catalyst and catalyst carrier in industrial production and life, and can be renewed for use.
How Activated Carbon Works?
The activation process creates a large number of pores inside the activated carbon, and these pores increase the specific surface area of the activated carbon. When a gas or a liquid flows through the activated carbon, the molecules of impurities are adsorbed onto the surface of the pores inside the activated carbon.
When the adsorption capacity of activated carbon is saturated, it can be regenerated and recycled through physical or chemical treatment. Activated carbon regeneration technology is of great significance in reducing waste generation, lowering costs and improving environmental performance.
Types of Activated Carbon
There are several common types of activated carbon:
1. Granular activated carbon(GAC)
2. Extruded(Pelletized) activated carbon(EAC)
3. Powdered activated carbon(PAC)
4. Bead activated carbon(BAC)
The shape of the activated charcoal can be customized to a certain extent according to the usage scenario.
Common raw materials of activated carbon are coal, wood, fruit shells, etc. Therefore, activated carbon can be categorized according to different raw materials: coal-based activated carbon, wood-based activated carbon, etc. The activated carbon produced by different raw materials has different characteristics. Activated carbon produced by different raw materials has different characteristics, for example, the activated carbon produced by using coal of different origins will have more obvious differences.