What is Activated Carbon?
Activated carbon is a crude form of graphite, the substance used for pencil leads. It differs from graphite by having a random imperfect structure which is highly porous over a broad range of pore sizes from visible cracks and crevices to molecular dimensions. The graphite structure gives the carbon it's very large surface area which allows the carbon to adsorb a wide range of compounds.
Activated carbon has the strongest physical adsorption forces or the highest volume of adsorbing porosity of any material known to mankind.
Activated carbon can have a surface of greater than 1000m²/g. This means 3g of activated carbon can have the surface area of a football field.
What is adsorption ?
Adsorption is the process by which liquid or gaseous molecules are concentrated on a solid surface, in this case activated carbon. This is different from absorption, where molecules are taken up by a liquid or gas.
Click here for more information on adsorption.
What is activated carbon made from ?
Activated carbon can made from many substances containing a high carbon content such as coal, wood and coconut shells. The raw material has a very large influence on the characteristics and performance activated carbon.
Forms of activated carbon
There are three main forms of activated carbon.
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Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) - irregular shaped particles with sizes ranging from 0.2 to 5 mm. This type is used in both liquid and gas phase applications. |
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Powder Activated Carbon (PAC) - pulverized carbon with a size predominantly less than 0.18mm (US Mesh 80). These are mainly used in liquid phase applications and for flue gas treatment. |
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Extruded Activated Carbon - extruded and cylindrical shaped with diameters from 0.8 to 5 mm. These are mainly used for gas phase applications because of their low pressure drop, high mechanical strength and low dust content. |
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Charcoal Activated Carbon Cloth - Activated carbon is also available in special forms such as a cloth and fibres. |
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Briquettes - Activated carbons can be agglomerated and formed into a variety of briquettes. |
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"The Customer Can Have Any Color He Wants So Long As It's Black". - Henry Ford - If you need activated carbon in a different colour please contact us to discuss your requirements. |
