Which activated carbon is suitable for water purification?

Activated carbon is a commonly used adsorption material in water purification. Its core function is to adsorb impurities, organic matter, residual chlorine, heavy metals and other pollutants in water through a porous structure. Choosing the right type of activated carbon requires combining its raw materials, pore structure, adsorption performance and actual application requirements. The following analyzes how to make a reasonable choice from key dimensions.

Types of activated carbon that KELIN can provide you with:

Coal-based activated carbon: using anthracite or lignite as raw materials, the pore structure is mainly mesopores, with high mechanical strength, suitable for treating large molecular pollutants (such as humic acid) or high-concentration industrial wastewater, but the efficiency of adsorbing small molecular organic matter is low.
Wood-based activated carbon: Made of wood or bamboo, it has well-developed pores and a high proportion of micropores. It has a strong adsorption efficiency for low-concentration organic matter (such as phenol and dyes), but has weak mechanical strength and is easy to break after long-term use.
Coconut shell activated carbon: Made from coconut shell, it has more than 80% micropores and a large specific surface area (usually ≥1000㎡/g). It has outstanding adsorption capacity for small molecular pollutants (such as residual chlorine and volatile organic compounds), but it is expensive and is mostly used in drinking water or high-precision purification scenarios.

Key factors for selecting activated carbon

Pollution type: Select activated carbon with pore matching for the target pollutant. For example, coconut shell carbon is suitable for removing residual chlorine and trace toxins, while coal-based carbon is more suitable for treating macromolecular pigments in industrial wastewater.
Water quality conditions: Acidic or alkaline environments may affect the stability of activated carbon, and varieties with stronger chemical tolerance (such as acid-washed coconut shell carbon) need to be selected.
Process adaptability: Granular activated carbon (GAC) is suitable for fixed bed filtration systems, and powdered activated carbon (PAC) is mostly used for emergency dosing or mobile adsorption, and the form needs to be selected in combination with the equipment type.
Economical efficiency: Coconut shell carbon has a high unit price but strong adsorption efficiency, which is suitable for long-term fine purification; coal-based carbon has a low cost and is suitable for large-scale pretreatment.

The selection of activated carbon for water purification requires comprehensive consideration of pollutant characteristics, water quality, process and cost. Coconut shell charcoal performs well in drinking water purification, coal-based charcoal is suitable for industrial wastewater pretreatment, and wood charcoal is suitable for low- to medium-concentration organic pollution. Scientifically matching types and needs can maximize adsorption efficiency and control costs.