Activated carbon is the major adsorbent in global adsorbent market occupying more than 65% of the volume market share due to its high adsorption capacity and large surface area. Activated carbon is mainly divided into three types; powdered, granular and extruded. It has become the preferred option for use in potable water purification, waste water treatment, aquariums, swimming pools and sewage water treatment as well as air and gas filtration. These applications are gaining popularity due to increasing pollution levels, health concerns and stringent government regulations.
Apart from this, activated carbon is used for decolorization and deodorization of food and beverages; and purifies vitamins antibiotics and active pharma ingredients in pharmaceutical industry and 1medical applications. Some of the other applications of activated carbon include control gas emissions in automobiles; personal protection in defense sector; gold and precious metal recovery; and as catalyst in removal of mercaptan in oil refineries.
Scarcity of raw material and increasing concerns over supply chain, the activated carbon market is currently facing pricing issues; however, the market for activated carbon is on rise due to its extensive use in liquid phase and gas phase applications.
Activated Charcoal Applications:
- industrial/pharmaceutical/chemical/military/agricultural/environmental – adsorption of unwanted chemicals
- neutralize toxic compounds
- medical
- food purification
- metalurgy
- carrier for chemical catalysts
- soil enrichment
- greenhouse gas reduction
- soundwave/microwave/radiowave capture
Activated Charcoal Uses:
- Air filters in gas masks, filter masks, air compressors.
- Food coloring
- Gas purification
- Gold purification
- Medicine: liver and kidney dialysis machines, laser surgery, breast cancer surgery, stomach decontamination from drug/food poisoning, wound dressing…
- Metal extraction
- Metal finishing – the purification of electroplating solutions, as in bright nickel-plating solutions.
- Nuclear Biological Chemical (NBC) suits
- Nuclear power plants
- Recycling solvents
- Rye grass seed industry
- Sewage treatment
- Snow avalanche control – helping to melt snow
- Soil enhancement
- Sound systems – “cleaning” out bad background noise
- Toxic soil cleanup from chemical spills or accumulation of chemical spraying
- Volatile organic compounds capture: from painting, dry cleaning, gasoline dispensing operations, and other processes.
- Water purification: aquariums, swimming pools, domestic & municipal water systems, recycling precious water on the orbiting space station (cost $10,000/liter)
