Activated carbon

Activated Carbon

Activated carbon granules

Activated carbon, also known as activated charcoal, is a form of carbon processed to have small, low-volume pores that increase the surface area available for adsorption or chemical reactions. Due to its high degree of microporosity, one gram of activated carbon has a surface area in excess of 3,000 m_.

Production

Activated carbon is produced from carbonaceous source materials such as wood, coconut shells, coal, and peat. The activation process involves treating the raw material with heat or chemicals to develop a porous structure. There are two main methods of activation:

• Physical activation: This involves carbonization of the raw material followed by activation using gases such as steam or carbon dioxide at high temperatures.
• Chemical activation: This involves impregnating the raw material with chemicals such as phosphoric acid or potassium hydroxide before carbonization.

Properties

Activated carbon is characterized by its high surface area, pore volume, and pore size distribution. These properties make it highly effective for adsorption applications. The surface chemistry of activated carbon can be modified to enhance its adsorption capacity for specific compounds.

Applications

Activated carbon is used in a variety of applications, including:

• Water purification: It is used in water filtration systems to remove impurities and contaminants such as chlorine, organic compounds, and heavy metals.
• Air purification: Activated carbon filters are used in air purifiers to remove odors, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and other pollutants.
• Medical uses: It is used in the treatment of poisonings and overdoses following oral ingestion. Activated charcoal is also used in some medical devices to remove toxins from the blood.
• Industrial processes: It is used in the recovery of solvents, gold purification, and as a catalyst support.

Reactivation

Reactivation furnace in Feluy, Belgium

Activated carbon can be reactivated and reused. The reactivation process involves heating the spent carbon to high temperatures to remove the adsorbed substances. This process can be performed in specialized reactivation furnaces.

Types of Activated Carbon

There are several types of activated carbon, each with specific properties and applications:

• Granular activated carbon (GAC): Used in water and air filtration systems.
• Powdered activated carbon (PAC): Used in water treatment and industrial processes.
• Extruded activated carbon: Used in air purification and industrial applications.
• Woven activated carbon cloth: Used in protective clothing and respiratory masks.

Gallery

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  Activated carbon in granular form

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  Water filtration systems using activated carbon

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  Activated charcoal powder

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  Activated charcoal tablets

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  Woven activated carbon cloth

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  Reactivation centre in Roeselare

Related Pages

• Charcoal
• Adsorption
• Carbon filtration
• Water purification

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  Activated carbon

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  Activated carbon

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  Water filtration systems

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  Activated charcoal powder

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  Activated charcoal

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  Woven activated carbon cloth

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  Reactivation furnace in Feluy, Belgium

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  Activated carbon reactivation centre in Roeselare