Grading Granular activated carbon

F-300 is virgin grade type Filtrasorb 300 granular activated carbon. 

Activated carbon fibers (commercially available Busofit-AYTM and modified grades of Busofit-AYTM ) and granular activated carbon (commercially available and additionally activated at Luikov Institute Porous Media Laboratory) have been used in this work (Table 1). 

In addition to surface area, pore size distribution, and surface chemistry, other important properties of commercial activated carbon products include pore volume, particle size distribution, apparent or bulk density, particle density, abrasion resistance, hardness, and ash content. The range of these and other properties is illustrated in Table 1 together with specific values for selected commercial grades of powdered, granular, and shaped activated carbon products used in Hquid- or gas-phase appHcations (19). 

Specifications. Activated carbon producers furnish product bulletins that Hst specifications, usually expressed as a maximum or minimum value, and typical properties for each grade produced. Standards helpful in setting purchasing specifications for granular and powdered activated carbon products have been pubHshed (33,34). 

A unique active carbon having very high surface areas over 2500 m / gm, and extraordinary adsorptive capacities was developed in our laboratories. (1) This paper will describe its development, manufacture, properties, and uses. Until recently, samples of this carbon, which were provided worldwide for research and evaluation, were identified as Amoco Grades PX-21, 22, 23, and 24 in the powdered form and Amoco GX-31 and 32 in granular form. The carbon is made (Figure 1) by a direct chemical activation route in which petroleum coke or other carbonaceous sources are reacted with excess potassium hydroxide, KOH, at 400° to 500°C to an intermediate product that is subsequently pyrolyzed at 800°-900°C to active carbon and potassium salts. The salts are removed by water washing. 

Activated carbon is available in various forms, ranging ftxim light and fluffy powder to hard, dense granules. Besides classification into granular (GAC) and powdered (PAC), commercially available activated carbons are further divided into grades based on adsorptive, physical and chemical properties [6, 18]. Commonly used tests for activated carbons ai e summarized in Table 2. 

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