Pursuing Excellence in High Purity Water Since 1985

TechNotes
PUREFLOW
The Official Journal of the PFI High
Purity Water Conference & Seminar Series

SUMMER 2018

Activated Carbon By: Craig Brown

Engineer, Pureflow, Inc.
Activated carbon is a form of graphite that has been processed mainly used for gas phase applications because of their low
to create millions of tiny pores between the carbon atoms. This pressure drop, high mechanical strength and low dust content.
increases the surface area to as much as 300-2,000 m2/g.
Granular Activated Carbon (GAC): is an activated
The increased surface area of activated carbon makes the material carbon with the majority of the particles above a certain size,
suitable for adsorption, a process by which impurities in liquids, 50-mesh sieve (0.297 mm) [per AWWA (1992) B604] or 80-mesh
vapors or gases are removed. Contaminant molecules are held within sieve (0.177 mm) [per ASTM] and larger.
the carbon’s internal pore structure by electrostatic attraction or, if
the base activated carbon has been impregnated, by chemisorption Granular activated carbon has a relatively larger particle size
(chemical adsorption). The adsorption process helps carbon remove compared to powdered activated carbon and consequently,
harmful materials (usually organic compounds), and certain types of presents a smaller external surface. Diffusion of the adsorbate
activated carbon can also initiate chemical reactions, and/or act as into the interior pore surfaces is thus an important factor. Since
carriers of biomass and chemicals. the rate of diffusion is related to particle size, the smaller the
carbon particle or mesh size, the faster the adsorption (e.g.,
Activated carbon is produced from carbonaceous source materials less contact time is needed). Granulated carbons are used for
such as nutshells, coconut shell, coir (coconut shell water treatment, deodorization and separation of
fibers), peat, wood, lignite, bituminous coal, and components of a flow system, and are also used in
petroleum pitch. rapid mix basins. GAC is designated by sizes such as
8×20, 20×40, or 8×30 and 12x40 for liquid phase
Types of Activated Carbon applications and 4×6, 4×8 or 4×10 for vapor phase
Extruded Activated Carbon (EAC): applications. The most popular aqueous phase
combines powdered activated carbon and a carbons are the 12×40 and 8×30 sizes because they
binder, which are fused together and extruded have a good balance of size, surface area, and head
into a cylindrical shaped activated carbon block loss characteristics.
Extruded Activated Carbon
with diameters from 0.8 to 130 mm. These are
Atlanta, GA Greenville, SC Graham, NC DFW, TX Lakeland, FL
 Powdered Activated Carbon (PAC): an activated acid washing is usually indicated by an acid soluble ash and/
carbon with particles predominantly smaller than 100 mesh in or acid soluble iron (indicative of all the metals) specification
size. The majority of the particles are typically <325 mesh. for the product. Acid washing may reduce the rinse volume
needed to reduce the effluent pH to an acceptable level.
However, acid washing alone is not normally sufficient to
eliminate initially high effluent pH values.
Catalytic Carbon: In general, any activated carbon
product has some catalytic activity due to the presence of
a small number of chemical functionalities present on the
corners of its graphitic basal plane. To enhance the catalytic
activity of carbon, the surface is modified by a chemical
or other process in which the electronic structure of the
carbon is altered in such a manner that the resulting carbon
offers enhanced catalytic capability. As a result, the catalytic
carbon (also known as “surface modified” carbon) produced
by this method is not only rich in chemisorption, but also
physisorption capacity. Catalytic carbon is much more
effective in removing chloramines than standard carbon.
A micrograph of activated charcoal (GAC) under scanning electron microscope. One test showed a 5X capacity to chloramine breakthrough
Photo by: Mydriatic over standard activated carbon, when operating at the same
conditions.
Each particle in this image, despite being only around
0.1 mm across, has a surface area of several square meters. pH Stabilized Carbon: Most activated carbon products
Traditionally, powdered activated carbons are made in produce an initial effluent with a pH greater than 7. The
particulate form as powders or fine granules. Thus they actual rise in pH depends on several factors such as surface
present a large surface to volume ratio with a small diffusion charges on the activated carbon, the ash content of the starting
distance. PAC is not commonly used in a dedicated vessel, material, total dissolved solids (TDS) of the influent water, the
due to the high head loss that would occur. PAC is generally buffering capacity of the influent water, and pH of the influent
added directly to other process units, such as raw water water. Historically, the initial pH rise was thought to be due
intakes, rapid mix basins, clarifiers, and gravity filters. PAC to the ash content of the activated carbon. However, recent
must be removed by mechanical filtration if undesirable in the studies have shown that acid washing alone is not normally
downstream process. sufficient to eliminate initially high effluent pH values. The
primary mechanism for the initial pH rise is now believed
Specialty Product Types to be due to positively charged sites on the carbon formed
during the activation process. These sites appear to exchange
Acid Washed Carbon: Activated carbon contains anions from the feed water, thus raising the pH. The solution
to the pH rise problem is through a controlled oxidation of
the activated carbon surface which inhibits the ion exchange
phenomenon and stabilizes the effluent pH. pH stabilized
carbon is used to reduce the potential pH spike (magnitude
and duration) that can occur when a fresh carbon bed is
brought online. The carbon will have an added specification
of a maximum ‘modified contact pH’ to show it is a pH
stabilized product.

Definitions & Properties of Activated Carbon

Abrasion/Hardness Number: relative measure of
A micrograph of activated charcoal (R 1) under bright field illumination on a
the ability of granular or pelletized activated carbon to resist
light microscope. Notice the fractal-like shape of the particles hinting at their attrition during handling and use.
enormous surface area. Each particle in this image, despite being only around
0.1 mm across, can have a surface area of several square centimeters. The Absorption: a process in which molecules are taken up
entire image covers a region of approximately 1.1 by 0.7 mm, and the full
resolution version is at a scale of 6.236 pixels/μm. by a liquid or solid and distributed throughout the body of
Photo by: Zephyris the liquid or solid, and usually associated with media swelling.
Activated carbons do not absorb other materials (impurities).
varying amounts of ash, depending on the source material
and processing. Acid washing will remove or leach off most Adsorption: a process in which molecules or atoms are
of the acid soluble ash and metals content before placing the physically attracted to and concentrated on an internal surface
carbon into an acidic stream applications. The degree of by chemical or electrostatic (physical) forces, or both.
 Apparent Density: usually measured in g/ cm3 (g/ reacting with chlorine via an oxidation-reduction reaction,
ml) or pounds per cubic foot. Apparent Density is used to rather than via adsorption.
determine the weight of a fixed volume of activated carbon.
The solid or skeletal density (e.g., if all pore spaces were Applications
removed) of activated carbons typically ranges between 2.0 Powdered activated carbon is commonly used as an
and 2.1 g/cm3 (125-130 lbs/ft3). However, a large part of “ingredient” in a reaction tank, where it is fed as a powder
an activated carbon sample consists of void space within and or slurry, to react with the contaminants in the process fluid.
between particles, and the actual operating (apparent) density It is also used for treating air, as in a gas mask and similar
is therefore lower, typically 0.4 to 0.5 g/cm3 (25-31 lbs/ ft3). applications.
Higher apparent density provides greater volume activity
and normally indicates better-quality activated carbon when Granular activated carbon is the media of choice for fixed
comparing the same source material. It can also indicate bed water treatment systems, as it exhibits the best mix of
different starting materials (such as bituminous coal vs. lignite surface area (e.g., particle size) and pressure drop.
coal vs. wood).
Extruded activated carbon combines powdered activated
Chemisorption (chemical adsorption): the binding carbon with a binder, which are fused together and extruded
of an adsorbate to the surface of a solid involving a chemical into a fixed shape activated carbon block. The block may
reaction between the surface and the adsorbate. New chemical also include specialty adsorbents such as zeolites or oxidizing
bonds are generated at the adsorbant surface. Examples filtration media for specific applications. Extruded activated
include macroscopic phenomena that can be very obvious, like carbon is mainly used for water treatment and gas phase
corrosion, and subtler effects associated with heterogeneous applications because of its low pressure drop, high mechanical
catalysis. The strong interaction between the adsorbate and strength and low dust content. A common application is in
the substrate surface creates new types of electronic bonds. In point-of-use cartridge filters.
an example of organics removal, an organic compound first
adsorbs to the carbon’s internal surface/ adsorption pore and Industries using activated carbon include:
then can react with an impregnant in the carbon to either Water Treatment: The biggest application of activated
form a more adsorbable species or a species that is less toxic carbon is in the purification of water and potable water
and can exit the bed along with the process stream. treatment. It is used in a variety of water treatment industries,
Empty Bed Contact Time (EBCT): the amount of time from municipal water supply treatment, wastewater treatment,
water is in contact with activated carbon. swimming pools, aquariums and even home filtration systems.

Iodine Number: the amount (milligrams) of Iodine Air Purification: Activated carbon is used to control
adsorbed by one gram of carbon at equilibrium with a 0.02N potentially harmful, environmentally damaging or unpleasant
Iodine concentration filtrate. Iodine Number is often reported odors in a number of environments, including homes,
in mg/g (typical range 500–1,200 mg/g). It is best understood manufacturing facilities and in operating rooms.
as an indicator of total pore volume. Iodine Number is the Food & Beverage: The Food & Beverage industry
standard measure for liquid phase applications. uses activated carbon as part of various processes, such as
the decolorization of sugar, purifying organic compounds,
Removal Mechanisms chlorine removal, purifying CO2, decaffeination and many
Activated carbon performs a variety of functions depending other practices.
on the application: Industrial: Activated carbon is used as a catalyst for many
• Adsorption: the removal of impurities from liquids, industrial applications; gas processing, gas storage and delivery,
vapors or gases; the most common application for gold recovery, pharmaceutical purification and many other
activated carbon practices.

• Reduction: e.g. removal of chlorine and chloramines Medical: Activated carbon can be found in almost every
from water based on chemical reduction reactions hospital, clinic or doctor’s office in the world. It is used to as a
poison treatment, odor control, filtration, in respiration masks
• Catalysis: catalyze a number of chemical and wound dressing just to name a few applications.
conversions, or be a carrier of catalytic agents (e.g.
precious metals)
Craig Brown has over 44 years of experience
• Carrier of biomass: support material in biological in the water treatment industry. His areas of
filters expertise include the design of large and small
custom engineered water treatment systems,
In most applications, activated carbon removes impurities developing standardized unit process design
from liquids, vapors or gases by adsorption. processes, technical equipment presentations
and training classes on various water treatment
Activated carbon removes chlorine from water by chemically equipment unit processes. He is a graduate
from the University of Wisconsin Madison.
TechNotes
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