Classification and main technical indicators of activated carbon

Activated carbon is a porous carbon material with a highly developed microporous structure. It is activated by organic substances (such as wood, bamboo, fruit shells, coal, etc.) through physical or chemical methods. Activated carbon is widely used in water treatment, air purification, chemical product purification, food and beverage processing, medicine and other fields. Activated carbon can be divided into multiple categories based on different raw materials, manufacturing methods and uses, and has its own specific technical indicators to measure its performance.

Classification of activated carbon:

1. Classification by raw materials:

- Wooden activated carbon: made of wood, bamboo, etc. as raw materials.

- Coal-based activated carbon: uses coal as raw material.

- Nut shell activated carbon: uses walnut shells, apricot shells and other fruit shells as raw materials.

- Cellulose activated carbon: made of cellulose materials such as cotton and linen as raw materials.

2. Classification by manufacturing method:

- Physical activation method activated carbon: manufactured through high-temperature heating and gas activation.

- Chemical activation activated carbon: manufactured by using chemicals such as phosphoric acid, zinc chloride, etc. as activators.

3. Classification by use:

- Food grade activated carbon: used for decolorization and deodorization of food and beverages.

- Industrial grade activated carbon: used in chemical industry, environmental protection and other industries.

- Pharmaceutical grade activated carbon: used in the manufacture of pharmaceutical products.

Main technical indicators of activated carbon:

1. Iodine Number: Indicates the ability of activated carbon to adsorb iodine. The unit is milligrams per gram (mg/g). The higher the iodine value, the stronger the adsorption capacity of activated carbon.

2. Specific surface area (BET Surface Area): the sum of the internal and external areas of activated carbon per unit mass, usually expressed in square meters per gram (m²/g). The larger the specific surface area, the better the adsorption performance of activated carbon.

3. Ash Content: The content of inorganic substances in activated carbon, usually expressed as mass percentage. The lower the ash content, the higher the purity of the activated carbon.

4. Moisture Content: Moisture content in activated carbon, usually expressed as mass percentage. The lower the moisture content, the better the adsorption effect of activated carbon.

5. Particle Size: The size of activated carbon particles. Particle size distribution affects the application and fluidization properties of activated carbon.

6. Hardness: the wear resistance of activated carbon. For activated carbon in industrial applications, hardness is an important indicator.

7. pH: The pH of activated carbon. For specific applications, pH may be an important consideration.

8. Density: The ratio of mass to volume of activated carbon, usually expressed in grams per cubic centimeter (g/cm³).

9. Porosity: the volume percentage of pores in activated carbon. High porosity usually means strong adsorption capacity.

10. Abrasion Resistance: The ability of activated carbon to maintain its structural integrity during flow and transportation.

When selecting activated carbon, these technical indicators need to be considered based on specific application scenarios and requirements to ensure that the activated carbon can meet the expected adsorption effect and durability.