Kan-Carbon is a reputable manufacturer of Activated Carbon in India.
Our main varieties of carbon are:
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Impregnated Carbon
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Hard Cylindrical Pellets
Activated Carbon is a black, solid (powdered,
granular or palletized) material resembling charcoal. It is an extremely
porous material with a large internal surface area which accounts
for its power to hold impurities, contaminants or colour bodies
by a process known as adsorption. Interestingly, one kg of Activated
Carbon can have a surface area of as much as 500 Acres.
It is not hard to imagine enormous accumulation of impurities on
such a vast area in such a small volume.
Activated Carbon can be manufactured from any carbonaceous
material like wood, saw dust coal, lignites, fruit shells etc. either
by Chemical activation which entails impregnation of a chemical
on the raw material and heating it to temperature above 450 °C
or by steam activation wherein superheated steam is reacted with
a carbonanised material at a high temperature (900-10000 °C)
in a rotary kiln.
Pores in Activated Carbon have numerous sizes &
shapes. Pore sizes have been classified into three types: Micropores
(pore dia less than 20 nm), Mesopores (pore dia 20-200 nm) &
Macropores (200 nm & above). While Micropore contribute maximum
to the surface area, the meso & micropres serve as ‘roads’
& ‘streets’ leading to micropres. Since Activated
Carbon is absolutely opaque and can neither be melted nor
dissolved and it is not possible to subject it to various analytical
techniques. We give below picture conceiving its structure:
The process of Adsorption depends on several factors like pH temperature,
solvent-salute interactions, pore-size distribution etc. Performance
of an activated carbon will depend on several factors like its raw
material, method of activation, temperatures of carbonisation &
activation etc. It is said that Activated Carbon
has a ‘memory’ or ‘inheritance’.
It is, therefore, imperative that a user must try several carbons
before settling for a grade. It must be kept in mind that there
is no such carbon which is universally good regardless of its price.
It is also equally important that the user weighs the performance
of activated carbon from the angle of effect received
per unit of money spent rather that per kg of carbon used.
As for regeneration of spent carbon while powdered carbons cannot
be conveniently regenerated, Granular Carbons can
be regenerated at temperatures above 600-700° C in specially
designed furnaces. Where substantial tonnage is used, manufactures
should be asked to help.
Use of Activated Carbon, particularly the powdered
variety is somewhat messy but there seems to be no substitute carbon
for at least in the foreseeable future.
It is very important to note that a single use of Activated
Carbon may not fully exhaust its entire capacity almost
one third capacity may remain unutilized. Therefore a judicious
use of carbon may result in substantial savings. Details can be
sent on request.
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