What is activated carbon? How is it produced?

Mclaren Power Forums: What is activated carbon? How is it produced? - Mclaren Power Forums

Activated carbon (also called active carbon, activated charcoal, or activated coal) is a form of carbon that has been processed to make it extremely porous and thus to have a very large surface area available for adsorption and chemical reactions. It is usually derived from charcoal.

Activated carbon is valuable for a variety of applications. Examples include gas purification, water purification, metal extraction, gold recovery, medicine, sewage treatment, air filters in gas masks and filter masks, and filters in compressed air.dxdcarbon In addition, activated carbon is useful for the deodorization of closed spaces such as refrigerators and warehouses. Sufficient activation for useful applications may come solely from the high surface area, though further chemical treatment often enhances the adsorption ability of the material.

Activated carbon is produced from carbonaceous source materials like nutshells, wood, and coal. It can be produced by one of the following processes:

Physical reactivation: The precursor is developed into activated carbons using gases. This is generally done by using one of or combining the following processes:

Carbonization: Material with carbon content is pyrolysed at temperatures in the range 600-900 °C, in absence of air (usually in inert atmosphere with gases like argon or nitrogen)

Activation/Oxidation: Raw material or carbonised material is exposed to oxidizing atmospheres (carbon dioxide, oxygen, or steam) at temperatures above 250 °C, usually in the temperature range of 600-1200 °C.

Chemical activation: Impregnation with chemicals such as acids like phosphoric acid or bases like potassium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide or salts like zinc chloride, followed by carbonization at temperatures in the range of 450-900 °C.activated carbon suppliers It is believed that the carbonization / activation step proceeds simultaneously with the chemical activation. This technique can be problematic in some cases, because, for example, zinc trace residues may remain in the end product. However, chemical activation is preferred over physical activation owing to the lower temperatures and shorter time needed for activating material.