Processing Techniques for Powdered Activated Carbon
Raw Materials
It is possible to turn a wide range of raw materials into activated carbon. Yihang provides wood powder activated carbons, coal based powdered activated carbons and others which differ in characteristics and applications:
Wood-Based Activated Carbon: Wood-based powdered activated carbon is manufactured with the use of hardwood and plant material where it has a very high purity which is more often than not food grade.
Coal Based ActivatedCarbon: Coal based powdered activated carbon is considered hard, tough and has high mechanical strength hence mainly used in industries.
Activation Processes
The activation process is one of the critical steps that play a major role in the impact performance of the powdered activated carbon. The two main methods can be delineated into;
Physical Activation: This means raising the temperature of the raw material in the presence of certain gases, such as steam and carbon dioxide, which contribute to the formation of cavities without changing the carbon structure that is already present.
Chemical Activation: The activation of such carbons may involve the treatment of the carbon with chemicals such as zinc chloride or potassium hydroxide. Such methods may lead to better control during production and in some circumstances, higher surface area may be achieved than during physical activation.
Particle size reduction
In order for powdered activated carbon to work, it has to be reduced to a very fine powder. Techniques that are used for particle size reduction include:
Mechanical Grinding: Is the use of mills and grinders to further reduce the size of the granules of activated carbon to more minute particulates.
Sieving: This is basically making sure that the powdered material passed through the grinding machine is of the desired distribution as the application would require.
Surface area enhancement
Post Treatment: Methods like washing and chlorinating have been used to enhance the quality and remove unwanted particles on the powdered activated carbon.
Surface Modification: Chemical substances of some sorts are administered to the particles to modify its surface chemistry for reasons like improving pH of the particles or increasing adsorption capacity of certain pollutants.
Yihang as a professional dealing with the manufacture and supply of activated carbon, has designed a variety of powdered activated carbons which could meet the needs in many industries. If you require wood powder activated carbon and coal based powdered activated carbon, there is need to know the benefits of each and the processes involved as this will help greatly in the quality of the application rather than in one conventional way of addition.