Physical forms
Activated carbons are easy to handle, industrially produced, carbon-containing products having a large inner surface. They are able to bind molecules to them and can adsorb a wide range of substances. Because of this characteristic they are called adsorbents.
Production
Activated carbon can be produced from almost any carbon-containing material. The AQUA-AIR-ADSORBENS activated carbons are produced from charcoal, hard coal, coconut shells and bamboo.
Powdered activated carbon
Powdered carbons are defined as activated carbons whose grain content smaller than 0.18 mm is more than 90%. Powdered carbons are used in the industrial purification of fluids. After adsorption, the powdered carbon must be separated from the liquid by filtration.
Granular activated carbon
Granular carbons are defined as activated carbons whose grain content larger than 0.18 mm is more than 90%. Granular carbon is composed of crushed granules with various diameters. It is characterised by specifying the grain limits with a tolerance of 5% oversize and undersize respectively. Granular carbon is used mainly for the purification of liquids.
Form activated carbon
...is activated carbon in the form of cylinders of identical diameter and different lengths. Form carbons are used mainly in air and gas purification.
Application
Activated carbon for groundwater purification and water treatment
In case of water purification using activated carbon a distinction must always be made between drinking water, groundwater and wastewater, whereby the differences are usually based on the concentrations of impurities which occur in this area of application. The impurities in the water are mainly found in the form of solvents and halogenated hydrocarbons such as CHCs and CFCs. Depending on the solubility, the different concentrations range from:
- 10 - 350 ug/l for drinking water
- 10 - 1.000 ug/l for groundwater
- 10 - 2.000 ug/l for wastewater
The treatment of the different kinds of water usually follows the same pattern:
- Separation of suspended matter (e.g. by using sand filters)
- Adsorption by activated carbon
The adsorbability of an organic molecule rises with increasing molecular weight, boiling point and decreasing solubility and polarity. This means that due to their low molecular weight and high water solubility compounds, such as methanol, are very poorly adsorbed; however compounds with large molecular weight and low solubility, such as most pesticides, are adsorbed very well.
AQUA - AIR - ADSORBENS activated carbons for water purification are divided into two main types:
- Activated carbons from coconut shells or apricot kernels with small pores, e.g. to remove substances with low molecular weight and micropollutants such as fungicides, readily volatile halogenated hydrocarbons, BTX (benzene, toluene, xylene), pesticides and herbicides.
- Activated carbons from hard coal or charcoal with larger pores, e.g. for the removal of dyes, petroleum hydrocarbons, humic substances and detergents.
AQUA-AIR-ADSORBENS activated carbons are used as powdered, granular or form carbons in water treatment. Special types of activated carbon can be created and supplied on customer’s requests.
Activated carbon in gas and air purification
We provide a variety of activated carbon products for the treatment of industrial exhaust air flows, process air and flue gas purification and odour elimination. This provides specific and expert solutions also for complex tasks. Again, the correct selection of a suitable activated carbon is essential.
Activated carbons with predominantly micropores are particularly used at low pollutant levels. Activated carbons with a diversified pore structure are used for the removal or retrieval of high pollutant levels for example, while activated carbons with special impregnations are particularly suitable for the removal of toxic and hazardous substances.
With the AQUA – AIR - ADSORBENS activated carbons, we can supply the entire range of adsorbers for specific problem areas. The years of experience of AQUA – AIR – ADSORBENS and of our employees in many groundwater, water treatment and wastewater treatment projects provide you with peace of mind in selecting the most suitable activated carbon, the required process technology, and their combination.
Selection of suitable types of activated carbon (excerpt):
| Application | Type |
|---|---|
| Exhaust air purification | AIR EX 60/4 |
| Wastewater | AQUA S 830 SPEZIAL |
| Electroplating technology | AQUA BP 2 |
| Aquarium water | AQUA S 15 EXTRA |
| Dechlorination BTX from the aqueous phase | AQUA C 830 / C 8x16 |
| Decolouration | AQUA CSZ 3 / CSP 3 |
| CHCs and BTX from the gaseous phase | AIR SLR40 SUPRA |
| Solvent recovery | AIR SLR 40 SUPRA |
| Groundwater purification | AQUA S 830 |
| Drinking water filter (at risk of microbial contamination) | AQUA C 830 |