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Comparison of 3 types of industrial activated carbon: Coal, coconut shell, and wood
2026-09-29
Industrial activated carbon is produced from various raw materials such as coal, coconut shell, wood, and forestry waste. After carbonization and activation processes, the raw material forms a pore structure which helps adsorb organic substances, colors, odors, and many pollutants. Depending on the raw material source, the proportion of micropores, mesopores, and macropores, as well as the hardness of the carbon, will vary, thereby determining the suitable application.
| Coal-based activated carbon | Coconut shell-based activated carbon | Wood and forestry waste-based activated carbon | |
| Structure | Mixed pore system consisting of micropores and mesopores, allowing adsorption of molecules of various sizes | Primarily micropores, suitable for small molecules and gases | Contains many mesopores and macropores, suitable for large organic molecules. |
| Characteristics | Medium to good hardness, relatively diverse adsorption capacity | Very high hardness, typically around 95-99%, which helps limit fragmentation and dust generation during use. Good regeneration capability, suitable for applications using granular carbon for extended periods | Lower hardness than coconut shell carbon but has a pore structure suitable for large molecule adsorption processes. |
| Applications | Suitable for industrial wastewater treatment, especially water streams containing various organic substances and colorants | Water filtration, pure water, gas treatment, odor removal, and particularly suitable for gold recovery, where high mechanical strength carbon is required | Often used in decolorization, especially in sugar production, food, and some pharmaceutical applications. |
| Product Form | Can exist in granular, pellet, or powder form depending on the product | Can exist in granular or powder form depending on the product. | Commonly found in powder form (PAC). |
| Raw Material Source | Anthracite or Bituminous coal, which is a raw material with a relatively dense carbon structure | Coconut shell is an agricultural byproduct, helping to utilize available raw materials and contribute to efficient resource use. | Raw material source: Wood and forestry waste, favorable for the formation of many mesopores and macropores after activation. |
Choosing the Right Type of Carbon
It can be seen that no single type of activated carbon is suitable for all applications. The selection should be based on the size of the substance to be adsorbed, the treatment environment, the operating method, and durability requirements:
- Coal-based carbon: Suitable for water and industrial wastewater treatment, especially when various organic substances of different sizes need to be adsorbed.
- Coconut shell carbon: Distinguished by its developed micropore system and high hardness, suitable for small molecules, gas filtration, pure water filtration, and gold recovery.
- Wood and forestry waste carbon: Contains many mesopores and macropores, suitable for large organic molecules and decolorization applications.
When selecting a product, in addition to the raw material, parameters such as Iodine Number, BET Surface Area, pore structure, hardness, ash content, and moisture content should be considered. Among these, the Iodine Number is often used to evaluate the adsorption capacity for small molecules, while hardness is particularly important for granular carbon used in filter towers or gold recovery.
Activated Carbon Solutions from MEISEI INTERNATIONAL TRADING
At MEISEI INTERNATIONAL TRADING, we provide activated carbon for water treatment, gas treatment, and various industrial applications. In particular, coconut shell activated carbon is available in various particle sizes, flexibly meeting the intended use and requirements of each system.
If you are interested in industrial activated carbon, please contact us for suitable product consultation.
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Our company has a 77-year history of operations in Japan, specializing in general plastic products, and also serving as a distributor and processing company. Last year, we established a subsidiary in ...
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