Granular activated Carbon (GACs) are charcoals derived through an activation process adding to their natural carbon structure making them a highly adsorbent media with large surface area that characteristically do not bind to many ions, atoms or 

molecules. 

Owing to their gigantic surface area, they can adsorb a vast amount of organic materials. A single gram of GAC can have a surface area exceeding 1000 m2. 1/2kg of carbon has more than 500,000m2 of surface area - in context around 46 football fields.

Indicators to a GAC’s ability to remove organic material are:

Iodine Number (Io N) measured in m2/gram, is synonymous with the activity of GAC’s in water treatment and is widely used as a quality control parameter in the production and reactivation process by manufactures. This is used as an indicator of the ability to adsorb due it’s measure of the relative surface area. (Potable water treatment should be in the range of 900-1050). 

Iodine adsorption in aqueous solutions is affected by carbon surface oxygen complexes, PH and Ash constituents. When a virgin activated carbon is wetted and dried the Iodine No for that carbon will fall 20-50 points because the surface Oxygen complex has been changed. The higher the Io N is another indication to adsorption of organic material. However, when selecting GAC’s for water treatment an important consideration is the Abrasion No (AN), this is a relative measure of the media’s ability to withstand abrasion when physically tumbled, i.e. backwashing. 

Shell carbons have the highest abrasion resistance at about 90 AN whereas coal media average around 70 AN. Ratings below this may not hold up well to vigorous backwashing.

Coconut Plantations

Indonesia, India, Sri Lanka, Philippines, Africa, Central and South Americas.

A Bi product of utilised coconuts in consumer markets of Oils, fuels, health care and human consumption.

Kiln dried In the absence of air to around 680°C. Shells are partly carbonized where dehydration and devolatilization occur, an intermediate product is obtained which has a small pore structure. Volatile content is reduced to <15%.

Activation 

Shells are broken down to <2cm for further activation at 900 -1100°C. Activation removes carbon and increases pore structure to 100%.

For desired particle size (Mesh size).

Using Acid or distilled water resulting in a clean, dust free GAC.

Kiln dried 

Reducing moisture content to <5%.

Granular Activated Carbon

The annual global activated carbon industry is estimated well in excess of 1million metric tons per annum with demand for virgin activated carbon ever increasing. 

Nearly 80% of the total active carbon is consumed for liquid-phase applications with gas-phase utilising the remaining 20% of total production. 

Active carbon production is steadily increasing YOY due to the demand in Waste Water treatment along with global education and regulation requirements.    

Consumption of active carbon is the highest in the U.S. and Japan, together they consume 2 to 4 times more than European and other Asian countries.

Estimated annual consumption per capita for Japan is 0.5 kg and 0.4kg in the U.S., 0.2kg in Europe, and 0.03kg in the rest of the world. This is due to the fact that Asian countries have not started using active carbons for water and air pollution control purposes in large quantities. This is primarily down to relaxed local government legislations in those regions and the need for any subsequent additional processing costs. 

Liquid phase Water purification in Drinking water, Waste water, Brewery, Swimming pools and Aquarium.

Air purification for removal of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC’s).