What is Activated Charcoal?
Activated carbon, also known as activated charcoal, is a highly porous form of carbon with a large surface area. It is created by heating carbon-rich materials, such as wood, peat, coconut shells, or sawdust, to high temperatures in the presence of an oxidizing gas or an activating agent like steam. This process removes impurities and “activates” the carbon by creating a network of tiny pores and an extensive surface area.
Activated carbon has a wide range of applications due to its adsorption properties, which make it excellent for removing impurities and contaminants from gases and liquids. Some common uses of activated carbon include:
- Water Treatment:
- Municipal Water Treatment: Activated charcoal is used to remove organic impurities, chlorine, and other contaminants from drinking water in water treatment plants.
- Industrial Water Treatment: It is employed to purify industrial process water and wastewater, removing pollutants and color.
- Air and Gas Purification:
- Air Filters: Activated carbon filters are used in HVAC systems, air purifiers, and industrial exhaust systems to remove odors, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and air pollutants.
- Gas Purification: It is used to purify gases, such as hydrogen, nitrogen, and methane, in industrial processes.
- Chemical Processing:
- Chemical Industry: Activated charcoal is used in the chemical industry to purify and separate chemicals, remove impurities, and recover solvents in various processes.
- Pharmaceutical Industry: It is used for purification in pharmaceutical manufacturing, including the removal of color and impurities from medications.
- Food and Beverage Industry:
- Edible Oil Refining: Activated charcoal is used in the refining process of edible oils to remove impurities, color, and undesirable odors.
- Sugar Refining: It aids in decolorization and purification of sugar syrups.
- Beverage Production: Activated charcoal is employed to remove color and impurities in alcoholic beverages, such as whiskey and vodka.
- Gold Recovery:
- In the gold mining industry, activated charcoal is used in the carbon-in-pulp and carbon-in-leach processes to adsorb gold from cyanide solutions, facilitating gold recovery.
- Environmental Remediation:
- Soil and Groundwater Cleanup: Activated charcoal is used to remediate contaminated soils and groundwater by adsorbing organic and inorganic contaminants.
- Air Emissions Control: It is utilized in systems to capture and treat emissions from industrial processes, reducing the release of pollutants.
- Petroleum Industry:
- Activated charcoal is employed in the purification and decolorization of lubricating oils and petroleum products.
- Electronics and Semiconductor Manufacturing:
- Activated carbon is used in the production of high-purity gases for semiconductor fabrication processes, helping to remove impurities that could affect semiconductor manufacturing.
- Cosmetics and Personal Care Products:
- Activated charcoal is a common ingredient in cosmetic and personal care products, including face masks and cleansers, due to its ability to absorb impurities and excess oil from the skin.
- Catalysis and Chemical Synthesis:
- In some chemical reactions, activated carbon can serve as a catalyst or support material for catalysts.
The choice of activated carbon type and its specific properties depend on the intended industrial application. The manufacturing process and the characteristics of the activated carbon, such as pore size distribution and surface area, are tailored to meet the requirements of each industrial use. Activated carbon plays a critical role in maintaining the quality and purity of products and processes in various industries.
Citizen Cooling Solutions Limited are the leading suppliers of Activated Charcoal in the Kenyan market and across the borders. Activated carbon comes in various forms, including powder, granules, pellets, and activated carbon cloth, each tailored to specific applications. The choice of activated carbon type and activation method depends on the intended use and the specific contaminants it needs to adsorb.
Get in touch with us to place order through +254 724 381 416 or email us via info@citizencoolingsolutions.co.ke
