Activated carbon is a highly porous material renowned for its adsorption capacity, meaning its ability to attract and retain substances on its surface. This material is produced from raw materials like wood, coal, or coconut shells, which undergo a thermal or chemical activation process to develop their porous structure.
Thanks to its composition and unique characteristics, activated carbon has a wide range of applications across multiple industries, making it an indispensable resource for purification, cleaning, and contaminant removal.
Properties and benefits
What makes activated carbon so special is its high capacity to adsorb chemical compounds, toxins, and particles in its microscopic pore network. Some of its main properties include:
- Large internal surface area: a single gram of activated carbon can have an internal surface area equivalent to a football field.
- High adsorption capacity: ideal for capturing unwanted substances such as chemicals, gases, and odors.
- Versatility: its uses range from water treatment to medical applications.
What is activated carbon used for?
Activated carbon is a key material in many industries, used in both industrial processes and household solutions. Here are its main applications:
1. Water treatment
One of the most well-known uses of activated carbon is in water purification. This material can remove contaminants such as chlorine, pesticides, organic compounds, and impurities that alter the taste and smell of drinking water. It is used in treatment plants, household filters, and industrial processes.
2. Air filtration
In ventilation systems and air purification, activated carbon is employed to eliminate harmful gases, unpleasant odors, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). It is commonly found in air purifiers and protective masks.
3. Medical use
Activated carbon is an essential resource in the medical field. It is used to treat poisoning and overdoses by adsorbing toxic substances in the digestive system, preventing them from being absorbed by the body.
4. Industrial processes
In the food, pharmaceutical, and chemical industries, activated carbon plays a vital role. It is used to decolorize liquids, purify compounds, and remove contaminants in production processes.
5. Personal care
In recent years, activated carbon has gained popularity in beauty products such as facial masks, toothpastes, and soaps, due to its ability to absorb impurities and eliminate toxins.
Need an activated carbon milling service in Spain?
If you need to prepare activated carbon for specific applications, at Global-TALKE, we offer a specialized activated carbon milling service. This process is key to adjusting the material’s characteristics according to the needs of each industry, ensuring optimal performance in its use.
We work with high-precision equipment that guarantees a high-quality final product, with the ideal particle size for applications such as purification, filtration, and other industrial processes.
Contact us without obligation for more information and optimize your processes with our activated carbon milling service.