Activated carbon is created by a process known as activation, which involves heating carbon-rich materials (such as wood, coal, or coconut shells) at high temperatures without oxygen. Activation can be done in two main ways: physically or chemically.
In physical activation, the carbon-rich material is first carbonized by heating it to a high temperature. This creates a char with a high carbon content. Then, an oxidizing gas (like steam or carbon dioxide) is used to treat the char at temperatures ranging from 600 to 900 degrees Celsius. This causes the char to expand and develop a porous structure. The resulting material is washed and dried to eliminate any impurities, resulting in activated carbon.
On the other hand, chemical activation involves saturating the carbon-rich material with a chemical activating agent (such as phosphoric acid, zinc chloride, or potassium hydroxide). The impregnated material is then heated to temperatures between 400 and 800 degrees Celsius. This process chemically reacts with the carbon, forming a porous structure. The activated carbon is washed and dried to remove any remaining chemicals.
Both physical and chemical activation methods yield activated carbon with a large surface area and a network of pores. These pores enhance the adsorption capacity of the activated carbon, enabling it to effectively capture and eliminate impurities, contaminants, and pollutants from gases and liquids.
Activated carbon is produced through a process called activation, which involves heating carbon-rich materials, such as wood, coal, or coconut shells, at high temperatures in the absence of oxygen. There are two main methods of activation: physical activation and chemical activation.
In physical activation, the carbon-rich material is first carbonized by heating it to a high temperature. This creates a carbonized char with a high carbon content. The char is then treated with an oxidizing gas, such as steam or carbon dioxide, at temperatures between 600 to 900 degrees Celsius. This causes the char to expand and develop a highly porous structure. The resulting material is then washed and dried to remove any impurities, resulting in activated carbon.
Chemical activation, on the other hand, involves impregnating the carbon-rich material with a chemical activating agent, such as phosphoric acid, zinc chloride, or potassium hydroxide. The impregnated material is then heated to temperatures ranging from 400 to 800 degrees Celsius. This process chemically reacts with the carbon, creating a highly porous structure. The activated carbon is then washed and dried to remove any residual chemicals.
Both physical and chemical activation methods result in the production of activated carbon with a large surface area and a network of pores. These pores enhance the adsorption capacity of the activated carbon, allowing it to effectively trap and remove impurities, contaminants, and pollutants from gases and liquids.
Activated carbon is produced by heating carbon-rich materials, such as wood, coal, or coconut shells, at high temperatures in the absence of oxygen. This process, known as activation, creates a highly porous material with a large surface area, which gives activated carbon its adsorptive properties.
