Activated carbon is an incredibly diverse product with countless applications in various industries. If we look into its history, activated charcoal has been used as a powerful adsorbent since the 18th century itself, but the industrial production of activated carbon started in the 1900’s. As we know, adsorption is the defining quality of activated charcoal, and it has made it an essential part of the purification industry. Activated carbon manufacturers have constantly adopted new methods and technologies to produce industry-efficient activated carbon. Here, we will discuss how activated carbon manufacturers have influenced and transformed industries across the world.
Activated carbon manufacturing
Activated charcoal is a type of carbon manufactured from carbon-rich raw materials, and it has properties such as a porous surface and high adsorption. Carbon is one of the most abundant materials in the world, and it is present in nature in various forms such as lead, charcoal, and diamond. In each of these forms, carbon exhibits different properties. The industrial production of activated carbon has various standardised procedures to produce the desired type of activated carbon we want. Like we have discussed before, it is a diverse substance with targeted applications relative to the raw materials and manufacturing process.
Activated carbon can be made using various raw materials such as wood, coal, bamboo, coconut husk, and lignite, although the most sought-after raw materials are wood and coconut husk. But the diversity of the final product goes beyond the difference in raw materials used. Beyond coconut-shell-based and wood-based activated carbon, there are classifications based on size, industrial applications, and manufacturing methods. Powdered activated carbon, extruded activated carbon, granular activated carbon, impregnated activated carbon, and pelletized activated carbon are all examples of different types of activated carbon produced industrially for various purposes.
Carbonization of the raw materials and activation are the two main procedures followed to produce activated carbon. There are two activation methods: physical activation and chemical activation. While chemical activation uses certain chemicals in the process, physical activation uses carbonization and oxidation methods to activate charcoal. These manufacturing methods and further procedures create different types of activated carbon with specific qualities to better serve a special goal in industrial applications such as the purification of gas and water. Now let’s take a closer look at the industrial applications of activated carbon.
Industrial applications of activated carbon
We know for a fact that activated carbon has countless industrial and non-industrial applications all around the world. Here, we will discuss some of the most important and relevant industrial applications of activated carbon.
Water purification: Water purification is one of the major industrial applications of activated carbon all over the world. Activated charcoal is a powerful adsorbent with high porosity, and it is used in water treatment to remove any kind of pollutants and impurities from water, such as herbicides, organic compounds, pesticides, and elements that can create taste differences and unpleasant odours. For surface and waste water treatment, wood-based activated carbon is generally preferred, while coconut shell-based activated carbon is used to treat well water and drinking water.
Air and gas treatment: Removing harmful pollutants from gases emitted from industrial processes is an important application of activated carbon. Activated carbon treatment removes unpleasant odours and volatile organic compounds and aids in the recovery of solvents. Impregnated activated carbon, on the other hand, can remove substances such as ammonia, cyanides, hydrogen sulphide, and alcohol from gas, which cannot be done with regular activated carbon.
Food and beverage industry: Activated carbon has a significant role in the food and beverage industry. It is used to refine cooking oils and remove substances like PHA. Fruit juices, non-alcoholic beverages, and candies, among other food items, use activated carbon to remove impurities, odours, and colours from them. Alcoholic beverage refinement is another major application of activated charcoal, in which it helps in the production of high-quality alcoholic beverages.
Pharmaceutical applications: Activated carbon can be made specifically for pharmaceutical and medical usage. It is used in the manufacturing and purification of drugs like antibiotics, as well as in direct medical applications, including as an emergency medicine for poisoning and in the purification process of blood fluids.
Environmental uses: Activated carbon’s industrial production uses natural raw materials such as coconut husk and wood, and it has an active role in environmental remediation as well. Besides being a powerful purification agent for gas and water, activated carbon is also used to fight soil pollution and plays a big role in soil restoration. It removes accumulated pollutants and restores the health of the soil.
Chemical industry: Safety is a major concern in the chemical industry, and activated carbon plays a huge role in ensuring there are no safety hazards when it comes to this industry. Activated carbon offers a layer of safety by adsorbing harmful chemicals from gases. This process helps in avoiding a major cause of air pollution and protects workers and surrounding communities from health risks. It is also useful for recovering solvents.
As we know, activated charcoal has incredible adsorption capacity and porosity, which makes it an ideal substance for purifying gases and water, recovering solvent vapours, and removing pollutants. As a highly versatile adsorbent, it is used in a wide range of industrial processes, starting from water purification to nuclear power. Apart from the industrial applications we have discussed above, activated carbon is used in the purification of amino acids and metal recovery. And now we can come to the conclusion that the possibilities of activated carbon and modern manufacturing methods have transformed industries across the world.
Southern Carbon
Southern Carbon is one of the major activated carbon manufacturers in India, with a global market. With more than two decades of experience in the activated carbon manufacturing industry, we have created a global impact with our high-end products. We are one of the favourite activated carbon manufacturers in Korea and a major exporter of activated carbon in Japan. This global appeal of Southern Carbon’s activated carbon stems from our expert services and high-end, customizable products. Connect with us to learn more about our environmentally sound products and manufacturing methods.