Pellet activated carbon, (also known as extruded activated carbon, columnar activated carbon), is activated carbon compressed into cylindrical shapes. It serves various purposes and finds wide applications in the removal of pollutants from water, air, catalyst carriers, and odor control.
In this article, I will introduce you to some aspects of columnar activated carbon, including its types, production process, advantages, and applications.
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What is Pellet Activated Carbon?
Pellets activated carbon is an efficient adsorbent material characterized by its long and slender columnar or cylindrical shape. Compared to other forms of activated carbon, columnar carbon is quick easier to handle, fix, and stack, making it an ideal choice for many gas-phase adsorption applications.
The adsorption principle of pellets activated carbon lies in its unique pore structure. With a wide range of pore sizes, including micropores, mesopores, and macropores, the differences in pore sizes enable columnar activated carbon to adsorb molecules of various sizes and types.
Through physical and chemical adsorption processes, extruded activated carbon can capture and bind liquid or gaseous substances, thereby purifying the environment or treating specific pollutants. This type of activated carbon is widely used in air purification, waste gas treatment, solvent recovery, water treatment, and other fields.
How is Pellet Activated Carbon Manufacturing?
The production process of extruded activated carbon involves the selection and treatment of raw materials, key steps such as carbonization and activation, ensuring the final product has a well-developed pore structure and adsorption performance.
The production flowchart below illustrates how pellet-activated carbon is manufactured. By following this process, you will gain an understanding of the manufacturing of columnar activated carbon.
Step 1: Raw Material Grinding:
The first step involves grinding the raw material coal to a certain fineness (generally above 95% passing through 180 mesh). Raw materials suitable for production include anthracite, coconut shell powder, wood, etc. The commonly used material is taixi coal from Ningxia.
Step 2: Binder Formulation
After preparing the raw materials, a certain amount of binder (commonly tar) and water are added. When using the catalytic activation method, a certain amount of catalyst is simultaneously added at a certain temperature for a specified duration. The treated hard coal is mixed with a certain proportion of tar, ensuring uniformity for molding.
Step 3: Granulation or Molding
Once the added binder and water fully infiltrate, permeate, and disperse evenly with the coal powder, the mixture is pressed into charcoal rods using a molding machine under a specific pressure and with a certain diameter extrusion die. The formed columnar charcoal is then dried under specific conditions to maintain a specific moisture content, usually around 10%, to form a robust charcoal structure.
Step 4: Carbonization
The dried charcoal is placed in a carbonization furnace, and slowly heated to control the carbonization speed and temperature, reaching the conditions for chemical reactions. This process causes the gradual thermal decomposition and volatilization of organic substances in the charcoal, forming a structure with numerous pores and high carbon concentration.
Step 5: Activation
After carbonization, the raw material undergoes activation to increase its pore structure and surface area. Activation develops more micropores and mesoporous structures, enhancing the adsorption capacity of activated carbon.
Step 6: Further Processing (Optional)
Activated carbon pellets may undergo additional treatments such as acid washing or impregnation according to market demands. For example, adding catalysts or special substances to enhance specific application effects. Detailed explanations can be found in this article.
Step 7: Quality Inspection and Packaging
The produced pelletized activated carbon undergoes quality inspection to ensure compliance with relevant standards and quality requirements. After rigorous inspection, it can be packaged in custom-branded bags or other weight bags for customer use.
Advantages of Activated Carbon Pellets
High Mechanical Strength
The long and slender shape of columnar charcoal enables effective mutual support between particles. This structure helps distribute loads under external forces and pressure, enhancing overall mechanical strength.
Low Wear Rate
Columnar charcoal typically has a smaller surface area, resulting in less friction between particles. This contributes to the reduction of particle wear and weathering.
High Adsorption Capacity
Activated carbon pellets possess a high specific surface area and porosity, enabling them to adsorb a significant amount of harmful substances, such as organic compounds and heavy metals in water, as well as volatile organic compounds and smoke in the air.
Environmental Friendliness and Sustainability
Compared to powdered carbon, extruded activated carbon operations are cleaner and more efficient. The adsorption performance of columnar activated carbon can be regenerated through high-temperature steam or chemical agents, reducing operational costs.
Applications of Activated Carbon Pellets
Pellet activated carbon is produced by extruding activated carbon into cylindrical particles with diameters ranging from 0.9 to 6 millimeters. Its high activity and surface area make it an ideal choice for various applications:
- Air purification
- Removal of pollutants such as ammonia, acid wash gas, H2S, and ether
- Biogas desulfurization
- Vapor recovery
- Odor control
- Environmental air treatment
- Removal of VOCs in exhaust gas
- Gas masks
- Pressure swing adsorption (PSA)
- Gold recovery
- Solvent recovery
- Food and beverage
- Treatment of ponds, aquariums, and swimming pool water
- Impregnated activated carbon: By impregnating specific substances such as KI, KOH
- Catalyst carrier
- Fixed bed adsorption systems
- Wastewater treatment
- Gasoline recovery in refineries, gas stations, and oil tanks
Conclusion
By reading the above content, we believe you have gained a further understanding and a more comprehensive awareness of pellet activated carbon.
If you have any questions about activated carbon pellets, as a trusted activated carbon manufacturer, you can find satisfactory answers here.
FAQ
What are the Dimensions of Activated Carbon Pellets?
The dimensions of pellet activated carbon usually vary depending on the application. Different scenarios and requirements may have different specifications and size choices. The typical diameter range can vary from a few millimeters to several centimeters, usually between 0.9 mm and 8 mm, with 4 mm being the most commonly used.
What is the Difference between Granular and Pellet Carbon?
Both types of activated carbon are adsorbent materials, but differences in their structural form and usage lead to varied selections in different application scenarios. Activated carbon pellets is typically cylindrical or rod-shaped, while granular activated carbon consists of irregularly shaped particles. There are significant differences in adsorption performance, application fields, filling, and usage between the two.