Activated carbon

Activated carbon is a porous carbon material processed to create extensive internal surface area. Its pores adsorb many dissolved and gaseous contaminants, making it useful in purification and separation.

Adsorption: Adsorption is the accumulation of atoms, ions, or molecules on a surface. Activated carbon removes contaminants mainly by collecting them on internal pore surfaces.
Carbonization: Carbonization heats organic material in limited oxygen to produce a carbon-rich solid. It creates the char that activation later develops into a porous adsorbent.
Water treatment: Water treatment removes or reduces physical, chemical, and biological contaminants in water. Activated carbon adsorbs taste and odor compounds, organic pollutants, and some treatment by-products.
Activated alumina: Activated alumina is a porous aluminum oxide used as an adsorbent and desiccant. It targets moisture and selected contaminants that activated carbon may capture less effectively.
Breakthrough curve: A breakthrough curve plots contaminant concentration leaving an adsorber against time or treated volume. It indicates when a carbon bed is becoming saturated and needs replacement or regeneration.
Micropore: A micropore is a pore with a width below two nanometers. Micropores provide much of activated carbon’s adsorption surface and capture small molecules.
Physical activation: Physical activation develops carbon porosity by treating char with oxidizing gases at high temperature. Steam or carbon dioxide selectively removes carbon and opens pores.
Air purification: Air purification removes unwanted particles and gases from indoor or industrial air. Carbon beds capture many volatile organic compounds and odor-causing gases.
Zeolite: A zeolite is a microporous crystalline aluminosilicate with uniform molecular-scale pores. Its regular pore openings can separate molecules by size more selectively than carbon’s varied pores.
Carbon reactivation: Carbon reactivation restores spent activated carbon’s adsorption capacity, commonly through high-temperature treatment. Reactivation can return used carbon to service and reduce demand for fresh material.

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