Wealth from Waste. Production of Activated Carbon from Natural Sources
Wealth from Waste. Production of Activated Carbon from Natural Sources. Agricultural Waste Conversion (Saw Dust, Coconut Shell, Rice Husk, Bamboo, Wood and Jute Sticks)
Activated carbon is a carbonaceous, highly porous adsorptive medium that has a complex structure composed primarily of carbon atoms. The networks of pores in activated carbons are channels created within a rigid skeleton of disordered layers of carbon atoms, linked together by chemical bonds, stacked unevenly, creating a highly porous structure of nooks, crannies, cracks and crevices between the carbon layers.
Activated carbons are manufactured from coconut shell, peat, hard and soft wood, lignite coal, bituminous coal, olive pits and various carbonaceous specialty materials. There are a range of different activated charcoals, but only pharmaceutical grade powdered activated charcoal is suitable for use in clinical toxicology.
Activated carbon is extensively used in water and sewage treatment owing to its ability to remove particulate and dissolved impurities. It also eliminates certain organic impurities and removes chlorine from water. It is used in greenhouses and manufacturing industries for air purification and to remove toxic gases, odors, and harmful dust particles. Food and beverage processing, pharmaceutical & medical, and automotive industries are other application areas for the product.
Activated Carbon Market Overview:
Global Activated Carbon Market is expected to garner 2,776 kilo tons and $5,129 million by 2022, registering a CAGR of 6.8% and 9.3% during the forecast period 2016 – 2020. Activated carbon is processed carbon with small, low-volume pores to increase surface area for chemical reactions and adsorption.
Increasing need of water treatment plants due to water scarcity and rising pollution is major driver of this market. Furthermore, strict environment regulations to control carbon and pollutants emission are increasing demand for activated carbon applications. Activated carbon sector is increasing with increase in industrialization and urbanization. Government is focusing to keep environment healthy in terms of safe water and air for living beings; moreover providing subsidies to industries such as power generation industry to control pollution.
High concerns about health issues by consuming contaminated water and air, by people, has increased the applications of activated carbon in purification, health & beverage processing, pharmaceutical & medical, automotive and many more. High price of raw material is restricting growth of market. Moreover, high pollution level, increasing per capita income, new product developments and launches will create potential opportunities for activated carbon market expansion in the upcoming years.
U.S. Activated Carbon Market Size, by Product, 2014-2025 (USD Million)
Rising awareness regarding the consumption of clean water amongst individuals, and increasing number of water treatment plants due to a provision of government subsidies for controlling carbon and mercury emission major factors expected to drive the growth of the global market over the forecast period. In addition, increasing applications of activated carbon in various industries such as water and air purification, health and beverage, pharmaceutical and medical, automotive industry is another important factor expected to fuel growth of the target market.
Based on product type, the activated carbon market is categorized into powdered activated carbon, granular activated carbon, and others. The others category refers to the remaining types of activated charcoal such as pelletized activated carbon. Demand for powdered activated carbon in industrial applications such as decolorization and deodorization operations in pharmaceutical industry is expected to act as a propellant to the market growth during the forecast period.
The global activated carbon market is highly consolidated. Key players operating in the global activated carbon market are Cabot Corporation, Calgon Carbon Corporation, Osaka Gas Chemicals Co., Ltd., and Haycarb PLC. Other players include ADA Carbon Solutions, Inc., CarboTech AC GmbH, Oxbow Activated Carbon, Donau Chemie AG, Carbon Activated Carbon, Evoqua Water Technologies, and Kureha Corporation. Market players have been profiled in terms of attributes such as company overview, financial overview, business strategies, and recent developments. The report also comprises a matrix of comparison of the top four players operating in the activated carbon market along with their market share analysis for 2017.
List of few Profitable Projects:
Activated Carbon from Saw Dust
Carbon is probably the most widely distributed element in nature. The term activated carbon, active carbon or active charcoal is usually applied to amorphous carbons processing higher absorption capacities that wood or animal charcoal. Industrial activated carbons in the form of pellets, granules or fine powder. And with many industrial application are new in the market under different trade-names. At present, in India there are about 21 to 22 units in which four units are in the state of Gujarat. Read more
Activated Carbon from Coconut Shell
Activated carbon is an amorphous from of carbon which has been treated to produce a highly developed pore structure resulting in a very large internal surface area. It is pore structure which gives the activated carbon its ability to absorb gases and vapours from gaseous phase and dissolved or dispersed substances from liquid phase. Activated carbon can be manufactured from wide variety of raw material such as pinewood, charcoal, coconut shell, rice husk etc. The activated carbon is also used for the purification of air and water, refining of sugar and production of electrodes. Read more
Activated Carbon from Rice Husk, Saw Dust & Coconut Shell
Carbon is probably the most widely distributed element in nature. Activated carbon from rice husk has been developed & finding wider uses. There is considerable scope in India for the manufacture of activated carbon from rice husk. The major use put by activated carbon is solution purification, such as the cleanup of cane, beet and corn sugar solution and for the removal of taste and odours from water suppliers, vegetable and animal fats and oils, alcoholic beverages, chemicals and pharmaceutical. Read more
Activated Carbon from Bamboo
Activated carbon is a non-graphite form of carbon and is microcrystalline in nature. It is extensively used in various industries as a very good absorbent for odour or colour. A large variety of raw materials are available for the manufacture of activated carbon like rice husk, groundnut husk, coconut shell, saw dust, bagasse, wood and bamboo etc. The activated carbon produced in the country is catering to the need of vanaspati and solvent extraction plant, glucose and sugar industries, water treatment, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, synthetic rayons, electrochemical industries etc. Read more
Activated Carbon (by Steam Activation Process)
The element carbon exists in three allotropic modifications, amorphous carbon, graphite and diamond, which are employed industrially. The major use of activated carbon is in solution purification, such as the cleanup of cane, beet, corn sugar solution and for removal of tastes and odors from water supplies, vegetable and animal fats and oils, alcoholic beverages, chemicals and pharmaceuticals etc. Looking these uses it can be concluded that there is very good scope for setting up activated carbon unit. Read more
Charcoal from Coconut Shell
Charcoal and purity of any substances has now become a basic requirement of any chemical substance. So many products obtained by processing are dirty in colour and having so many impurities. This problem can be easily solved by adsorption of which carbon has become one of the most generally used materials for the purpose, animal matter. The resulting amorphous products include charcoal coke and petroleum coke. Granulated activated carbons are used for purification of gases or liquids and can be used in a vertical carbon packed column. It finds application in the preparations of pills and digestive tables. Read more
Activated Carbon from Rice Husk/coconut Shell
The term activated carbon, active carbon or active charcoal is usually applied to amorphous carbons possessing higher absorption capacities than wood or animal charcoal. Industrial activated carbon in the forms of pellets, granules or fine powders, and with many other industrial applications is now in the market under different trade names. There has been a considerable amount of laboratory and pilot plant research in India on the production of active carbons. At present in India there are about 25 to 30 units, in which, four units are in Gujarat. Read more
Activated Carbon from Saw Dust & Coconut Shell
Activated Carbon is a unique material because of the way it is filled with holes (voids, spaces, sites, pores,) whatever the size of molecules. It is that, although they are spaces of zero electron density, these pores possess intense vander wall forces (from the near proximity of carbon atoms). Activated carbon is a non-graphitic form of carbon, which could be produced by activation of any carbonaceous material such as coconut shells, bamboo, wood chips, sawdust, coal, lignite, paddy husk etc. The process of activation is carried out in two stages. Read more
Activated Carbon from Wood
Activated carbon, also called activated charcoal, activated coal, or carbo activatus, is a form of carbon processed to be riddled with small, low-volume pores that increase the surface area available for adsorption or chemical reactions. Activated is sometimes substituted with active. Activated Carbon is a unique material because of the way it is filled with “holes” (voids, spaces, sites, pores,) whatever the size of molecules. Activated carbon is a non-graphitic form of carbon, which could be produced by activation of any carbonaceous material such as coconut shells, bamboo, wood chips, sawdust, coal, lignite, paddy husk etc. Read more
Activated Carbon Powder from Jute Sticks
Activated carbon is a non-graphitic form of carbon, which could be produced by activation of any carbonaceous material such as jute sticks, coconut shells, bamboo, wood chips, sawdust, coal, lignite, paddy husk etc. Without adding any additives, chemicals or bonding agents, our Charcoal Powder is completely natural and odor-free. By reducing waste discharged into the environment, or rather, by making full use of our resources, makes Charcoal Powder environmental friendly, and the world, a better place to live. Read more
Acid Washed Granulated Activated Carbon
The activated carbon is produced for use in ultra-pure water treatment systems requiring low conductivity and exceptionally high purity. This activated carbon is also specifically designed for the removal of heavy hydrocarbons from recovered condensate. The acid washing process removes soluble silica from the matrix of the activated carbon to prevent leaching into the condensate. Some of the benefits of Acid Wash carbon include Dechlorination of water, better taste, removal of bad odors, removal of color from water, removal of organic substances, etc. Read more
FAQ:
Q1: How is activated carbon produced from natural sources?
Answer: Activated carbon is produced from carbon-rich natural sources, often organic materials like wood, coconut shells, peat, or agricultural residues. The production process typically involves two main stages: carbonization and activation. In the carbonization step, the raw material is exposed to high temperatures in an inert atmosphere, converting it into a carbon-rich mass. The activation step involves treating the carbonized material with activating agents like steam or chemicals at elevated temperatures, developing a porous structure and increasing the surface area.
Q2: What are the advantages of using natural sources for producing activated carbon?
Answer: Natural sources are renewable, abundant, and often considered waste materials, making them cost-effective and environmentally friendly options for activated carbon production. Using agricultural by-products and waste materials helps in waste management and reduces environmental impact. Additionally, the intrinsic properties of some natural sources, like coconut shells, yield activated carbon with high porosity and adsorption capacity.
Q3: How does the quality of activated carbon vary with different natural sources?
Answer: The quality of activated carbon is largely determined by the source material’s intrinsic properties, including its carbon content, lignin structure, and mineral content. For instance, activated carbon produced from coconut shells is generally considered high-quality due to its high carbon content and low impurities, offering superior adsorption capacity and porosity compared to other natural sources like wood or peat. The choice of source material directly influences the activated carbon’s performance in specific applications.
Q4: Can the activated carbon produced from natural sources be regenerated?
Answer: Yes, activated carbon can be regenerated, extending its life and making it a more sustainable option. Regeneration involves removing the adsorbed contaminants from the activated carbon surface, typically through thermal, chemical, or mechanical processes, allowing it to be reused. However, the efficiency of regeneration may depend on the type of activated carbon, the nature of the contaminants, and the regeneration method employed, and in some cases, the loss of material and reduction in adsorption capacity may occur.
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