Activated Carbon

Activated carbon can be manufactured from various carbonaceous materials. It is the chemical and physical composition of these materials plus the conditions of activation which give the activated carbon its characteristic pore structure which determines adsorption performance. Activated carbon can be made from a number of raw materials having a high carbonaceous content. Liquid-phase activated carbons are available in two physical forms: granular and powdered. Some adsorption problems are best handled by passing the liquid through a bed of granular carbon. An activated carbon might be described as a solid foam. It has extremely high internal surface area along the sides of an extremely intricate network of internal pores. The type of activated carbon used will also affect what is adsorbed and the adsorption efficiency. When activated carbon is reactivated or regenerated, the internal pore structure of the carbon is altered.