Choosing the right activated carbon takes much more than just considering the price difference. Activated carbon manufacturers and suppliers offer activated carbons of different types and grades and to choose the right activated carbon you must take into account several factors. You must analyze the performance characteristics in light of specific uses.
Some activated carbons tend to be better than others for specific applications. This difference can be pretty huge and that’s why you must have a streamlined selection process based on several parameters. Here is a list of certain points you must keep in mind while choosing activated carbons.
Tips to Choose the Right Activated Carbon
Know the source and base of activated carbon
To be truly effective in your selection you must know the source and base of the activated carbon in question. It is a misconception that all carbons are the same. In any given application there are considerable differences between activated carbons based on wood, coconut, or coal used as raw material. Proper selection of base is important as it determines the pore structure and many other properties that directly affect the output or performance. Some carbons tend to outperform others in a particular application and/or are cost-effective than the rest.
Manufacturing process
Considering the manufacturing process is also an essential part of your selection process. Carbons used for general purposes are manufactured using the “direct activation” process. In this process, pulverizing, binding and re-agglomerating processes are removed for less production cost. This process includes using an inexpensive raw material and it includes crushing, sizing, baking and activation.
Direct activation is a cost-effective process, but it certainly results in compromised performance. The performance of carbon is determined by its pore structure. For this very reason, general-purpose carbons fail to perform well because the lack of additional pore infrastructure leads to inadequate bed life and poor performance.
There is a distinctive difference between general-purpose and high-performance activated carbons. General-purpose carbons have a lower bed life and force the user to change out more often in demanding applications. Apparently, they have low adsorption properties too. They are less resistant to abrasion and have approximately 6.2% fines and high ash content. As a buyer, whether you choose general-purpose or high-performance activated carbon products; you must choose ISO certified manufacturers.
At Black Stone Carbon, we use the high-end 5th generation double steam activation process and that speaks volumes about the product quality you can expect from us.
Being a premier activated carbon manufacturer and exporter in India, we have the necessary experience, expertise, and resources to fulfill your demanding needs. No matter, how complex your needs are, we are here to make it happen for you.
