Activated carbon is a useful absorbent today that is commonly found in water purifiers at our homes and offices. It has a high surface area and a pore structure, which makes it an effective purifier. Due to its high surface reactivity, it is also used effectively for deodorants, dechlorination, and decolorization. It is a great economical absorb and used in manufacturing industries for several tasks, including preserving food-grade products, cosmetology, automotive, petroleum, and metal recovery for precious metals.
Activated carbon is easily available in coal, wood, and coconut shells. There are different ways in which activated carbon can be produced. Different types of activated carbons are used for different industrial purposes. The most common activated carbons are granulated, pelletized, powdered, impregnated, and catalytically activated carbons.
Each type of activated carbon is application specific based on the size of its particles. It is the most powerful absorbent that is available in the world today. Since it is eco-friendly in nature and has the ability to regenerate, it is the first choice for industries. Here are the four common types of activated carbons used in the industries.
Coconut shell activated carbon
Coconut shell activated carbon is the most commonly used type of activated carbon in the world today. It is affordable and has high availability. This activated carbon has a large surface area and has a hardness and low dust, making it suitable for water and air filtration. It has micropores that can work as the best filters. They are excellent in purity and contain only 3-5% of ash content. Since they are green and readily available from the trees, they make good activated carbon.
Coal-based activated carbon
This type of activated carbon is commonly used for gas and liquid filtering applications. Coal-based activated carbon has a high surface area, which can have both mesopores and micropores. It has consistency in its density. The material is hard and clean with minimal dust generation. Coal-based activated carbon is used commonly in industry level water systems. It is quite economical and practical for big and faster filters.
Catalytic based activated carbon
This type of activated carbon is used mainly for removing chloramines and hydrogen sulfide from drinking water. It posses the properties of activated carbon like all the other types, including the ability to promote chemical reactions. It is created by altering the surface structure of activated carbon. It can be an economical solution to absorb H2S and converting it into sulfuric acid and sulfurous acid.
Wood-based activated carbon
It is a type of activated carbon used less in water filtration and more in renewable energy projects. It is commonly needed in industrial works that require coal and coconut products. It has a high surface area that has both mesopores and micropores. They are excellent for decolorizing materials as they are relatively low in density and are also renewable.