Activated carbon is an irreplaceable purification agent used across the world in various sectors and industries. Based on the manufacturing process, raw materials, and other properties, activated carbon is classified into different types, such as granular activated carbon (GAC), powdered activated carbon (PAC), impregnated activated carbon, and pelletized activated carbon. In this article, we are going to look into the properties, applications, and manufacturing processes of pelletized activated carbon.
What is pelletized activated carbon?
Pelletized activated carbon is also known as columnar activated carbon, and it is cylindrical in shape. Typically, pelletized activated carbon has a diameter ranging between 0.8 mm and 5 mm, and the cylindrical shape of pelletized activated carbon is achieved by extruding activated carbon. For this reason, pelletized activated carbon is also known as extruded activated carbon. Pelletized activated carbon is used in many industries to remove pollutants, contaminants, and unpleasant odours from air and water, and due to its special properties, it is a preferred form of activated carbon used in gas treatment procedures.
Pelletized activated carbon’s shape makes it one of the easiest forms of activated carbon to handle and the presence of pores of various sizes, including mesopores, micropores, and macropores, allows pelletized activated carbon to adsorb pollutants of very different sizes. Apart from water purification, air purification, and gas treatment, pelletized activated carbon is also widely used in solvent recovery as well.
Pelletized activated carbon manufacturing
Selecting and treating the raw materials is the primary step when it comes to the manufacturing process of pelletized activated carbon. Coconut shells and wood are all suitable natural raw materials used in the production of extruded activated carbon. After sorting and preparing the raw materials, they are crushed into fine pieces and combined with a binder to ensure consistency when moulding the material. After the previous steps, the mixture of raw materials and binder is moulded into the cylindrical shape of pelletized activated carbon using a moulding machine with regulated pressure.
Once the moulding is finished, the raw materials undergo the key steps of activated carbon formation—carbonization and activation, respectively. The carbonization and activation processes improve the carbon concentration and develop the highly porous structure of activated carbon, along with enhancing the adsorption capacity. After activation according to the demands of clients, additional processing, such as impregnation, is done. This process will further enhance the specific traits of activated carbon and enable it to work in specific applications. After the manufacturing process is completed, the final product undergoes quality tests to ensure its effectiveness and is stuffed in secured packages for clients to use.
Qualities and applications of pelletized activated carbon
High surface area, exceptional adsorption quality, and cost-effectiveness have made activated carbon one of the most preferred purification agents in industrial and domestic applications. Apart from the regular properties of activated carbon, pelletized activated carbon has some specific special qualities that make it a type of activated carbon with high market demand. The high adsorption capacity and the high density of pores in various sizes enable pelletized activated carbon to adsorb a wide range of harmful pollutants, including heavy metals, VOCs, organic compounds, and odour-causing substances.
The cylindrical shape enhances the mechanical strength of pelletized activated carbon compared to other structures. It can hold itself against external pressure because, in the cylindrical structure, the particles effectively support each other. The structure also reduces friction between particles and lowers the wear rate. Pelletized activated carbon is less messy compared to its other counterparts, and it can be revived through particular processes; this quality makes it a sustainable and cost-effective option for purification needs in countless industries.
Especially favourable and effective in gas treatment processes, pelletized activated carbon can remove almost all kinds of impurities, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and other poisonous gases from industrial emissions. Pelletized activated carbon is effective in regular air and water purification, and it is regularly used for applications in the pharmaceutical, food, and beverage industries. Environmental remediation and gold recovery are other major industrial applications of pelletized activated carbon.
Conclusion
Pelletized activated carbon is an exceptionally effective form of activated carbon in gas purification and metal recovery processes, and among activated carbon companies in India, Southern Carbon is emerging as one of the major producers and distributors of high-end pelletized activated carbon. We are one of the major activated carbon suppliers in India, based in Kerala, distributing high-quality, customizable activated carbon products across the world. Connect with us to learn more about our products and customizing options.