What is Coal Based Activated Carbon?
Coal based activated carbon represents one of the most versatile and widely used adsorbent materials in industrial applications worldwide. At Qizhong Carbon, with over 20 years of expertise in activated carbon innovation, we’ve developed advanced coal-based activated carbon solutions that deliver exceptional performance across multiple industries. These specialized carbon products are manufactured through the careful physical activation of selected coal types, creating a highly porous structure ideal for adsorption processes.
Unlike other carbon types, coal-based activated carbon features a unique combination of micropores, mesopores, and macropores that give it versatility across diverse applications. This distinctive pore distribution makes it particularly effective for removing both small and large molecular contaminants from liquids and gases, providing comprehensive purification capabilities that other activated carbons cannot match.
Manufacturing Process: Physical Activation
The production of high-quality coal-based activated carbon follows a carefully controlled two-stage process:
Stage 1: Carbonization
The process begins with high-grade bituminous coal that undergoes a controlled thermal treatment at temperatures between 600-900°C in an oxygen-free environment. This initial carbonization stage:
- Removes volatile compounds from the coal structure
- Creates a preliminary char material with basic pore structure
- Preserves the carbon content while eliminating impurities
Stage 2: Steam Activation
The char material then undergoes physical activation using steam as the activation agent at temperatures between 900-1100°C. During this crucial stage:
- Millions of pores are created within the carbon structure
- The internal surface area expands dramatically (reaching 500-1500 m²/g)
- Pore size distribution develops to target specific adsorption applications
This physical activation process is environmentally preferable to chemical activation methods as it eliminates the need for corrosive chemicals and reduces waste treatment requirements.
Distinctive Properties of Coal-Based Activated Carbon
Coal-based activated carbon offers several key advantages that make it the preferred choice for many industrial applications:
- Balanced pore structure: Contains an optimal mix of micropores, mesopores, and macropores for versatile adsorption capabilities
- High surface area: Typically ranges from 800-1200 m²/g, providing extensive adsorption sites
- Superior hardness: Offers excellent mechanical strength with hardness values of 80-95%
- Low dust generation: Minimizes downstream contamination in fluid treatment systems
- Thermal stability: Maintains performance integrity across a wide temperature range
- Cost-effective performance: Delivers excellent value compared to other carbon types
The specially engineered pore structure of our coal-based activated carbon enables it to effectively capture and retain a wide range of organic and inorganic contaminants, making it ideal for applications requiring comprehensive purification.
Available Forms and Specifications
At Qizhong Carbon, we produce coal-based activated carbon in several forms to suit different application requirements:
Granular Activated Carbon (GAC)
Our granular coal-based carbon is available in various mesh sizes including:
- 4×8, 4×10, 6×10, 6×12, 8×16, 8×20, 8×30, 10×30, 10×40, 12×40
Key specifications:
- Iodine value: 800-1100 mg/g
- CTC adsorption: 50-85%
- Methylene blue adsorption: 100-230 mg/g
- Apparent density: 0.35-0.60 g/cc
- Hardness: 80-95%
- Ash content: 8-18% (standard) or 1-8% (acid-washed)
Powdered Activated Carbon (PAC)
Our powdered coal-based activated carbon offers:
- Mesh sizes: 50, 80, 100, 200, and 325
- Iodine value: 700-1100 mg/g
- Enhanced adsorption kinetics for rapid contaminant removal
- Ideal for batch treatment applications
Extruded (Pelletized) Activated Carbon
Available in diameters ranging from 0.8mm to 9mm, our extruded coal-based carbon provides:
- Iodine value: 800-1200 mg/g
- CTC adsorption: 50-90%
- Superior hardness: 80-95%
- Low pressure drop in gas-phase applications
- Minimal dusting during handling and operation
Key Applications for Coal Based Activated Carbon
Coal-based activated carbon excels in numerous industrial applications due to its versatile adsorption capabilities:
Water Treatment
In water treatment applications, our coal-based activated carbon effectively removes:
- Organic contaminants (pesticides, industrial chemicals)
- Chlorine and chloramines
- Taste and odor compounds
- Disinfection byproducts
- Certain heavy metals through surface interactions
Water treatment facilities benefit from our coal-based GAC’s excellent regeneration capacity and long service life, reducing operational costs while maintaining high water quality standards.
Air & Gas Purification
For air and gas applications, coal-based activated carbon provides exceptional performance in:
- VOC (volatile organic compound) removal
- Mercury capture from flue gases
- Odor control in industrial environments
- Biogas purification
- Air quality improvement in HVAC systems
The well-developed mesopore and macropore structure of coal-based carbons makes them particularly effective for gas-phase applications requiring high adsorption capacity and efficiency.
Industrial Processing
In industrial processes, our coal-based activated carbon serves critical purification functions:
- Decolorization of industrial liquids
- Purification of food-grade products
- Chemical recovery and separation
- Catalyst support applications
- Solvent recovery systems
The balanced pore structure of coal-based activated carbon makes it particularly suited for applications requiring the removal of diverse contaminant types simultaneously.
Why Choose Qizhong Carbon’s Coal-Based Activated Carbon?
As a leading manufacturer with over 20 years of experience, Qizhong Carbon delivers coal-based activated carbon products that offer:
- Consistent quality: Our advanced production facilities ensure uniform product characteristics batch after batch.
- Customizable solutions: We work closely with customers to engineer activated carbon specifications that match their exact application requirements.
- Comprehensive certifications: Our products meet rigorous standards including ISO9001, ISO14001, NSF, HALAL, and KOSHER certifications.
- Technical support: Our professional R&D team provides expert assistance in product selection, application optimization, and troubleshooting.
- Global reliability: With facilities in Zhengzhou, China, we serve customers worldwide with timely delivery and consistent product quality.
The Sustainable Choice
While coal-based activated carbon utilizes a non-renewable resource, our efficient production processes maximize resource utilization while minimizing environmental impact. The extended service life and regeneration capabilities of our coal-based products further enhance their sustainability profile compared to other purification media.
For applications requiring renewable-based alternatives, Qizhong Carbon also offers a complete line of coconut shell activated carbon with complementary performance characteristics.
Partner with Qizhong Carbon
When you choose coal-based activated carbon from Qizhong Carbon, you benefit from our commitment to “Quality First, Innovation Driven” and our decades of experience in creating high-performance carbon solutions.
Contact our technical team to discuss how our coal-based activated carbon products can address your specific purification challenges and improve your operational efficiency.
Email: info@qizhongcarbon.com
Phone: +86-19137612950
Contact us today to request product specifications, samples, or application-specific guidance for your coal-based activated carbon requirements.
