ACTIVATED CARBON
1.
PRODUCT CHARACTERISTICS
Form
Powder,
Pellets
Granules
Grade
Liquid phase or de-colouring carbon.
Gas phase or vapour absorbent carbon.
Liquid phase or decolouring carbon
Form
Light fluffy powder
Characteristics
Large percentage
macropores
of
transitional
or
Gas phase or vapour absorbent carbon.
Form
Granules or pellet
Characteristics
Large percentage of micropores
Pore size
Porosity and the pore structure are the most important characteristics of Activated carbon. Size of
the micropores is the deciding factor in selective absorption.
Atleast two systems of pores of distinctly different sizes exist in every carbon particle.
Macropores (1000 to 2600 Deg A) acts as large access ways for diffusion of particles.
Micropores (10 to 100 deg A) contributes towards large surface area which are responsible for
absorption action.
Surface area
From 200 to 2000 m2/g, depending upon the method and manner of preparation.
Adsorption behaviour
Depending on the process of activation, i.e. steam, as or chemically activated, the Activated
Carbon differ in their adsorption behaviour.
Product specifications
2.
Chemical parameters
Acid washed
Unwashed
Moisture(%) max.
10
10
Methylene value(min)
270
280
KmnO4(min)
60
60
Iodine value
1100
1100
Ash(%) max.
3
NA
Fe ppm
200
1000
pH
6.5 to 7.2
Adjustable
Chlorine(%) max
0.4
NA
Sulphate(%) max
0.4
NA
Phosphate
Nil
Nil
Acid soluble matter(%)
1.5
5
Water soluble(%)
0.5
4
Bulk density
4 to 6 gm/cc
4-6 gm/cc
PRODUCT APPLICATIONS
Activated carbon is a unique and effective agent for purification and for isolation and recovery of
trace materials.
During the last two to three decades, treatment with active carbon has become an important unit
process for separations and purifications in the food, pharmaceuticals, sugar, chemical and other
processing industries.
Nature of applications
For the removal of colour or odour, oxidising chemicals, compounds responsible for foaming,
metallic ions which constitute impurity and invisible impurities, to improve product stability and to
provide better cystallisation.
For recovery of valuable materials, to enhance purity, to improve the appearance of product and
to act as barrier to prevent migration of colour bodies.
Gradewise application
3.
Grade
Sector
Powdered Activated carbon
Vegetable oils, fats, sugar,
treatment,
pharmaceuticals,
chemicals and food products.
Granular Activated carbon
Automotive canisters, air purification,
chemical and pharmaceutical industry.
Pelletised Activated carbon
Solvent recovery, catalyst application etc
IMPORTS
Around 1000 tonnes per annum
water
fine
4.
EXPORTS
5.
INDIAN MANUFACTURERS
Around 2500 tonnes per annum
There are around 50 producers of Activated Carbon in the country, mostly in Medium and SSI
sector.
The Indian producers of Activated Carbon include the following.
Indian Manufacturers
*
Active Carbon India Ltd , Hyderabad
*
Bleachaid Minerals Mehdipatnam
*
Unichar International, Goa
*
Anil Starch Products Ltd.,Gujarat
*
Amar Carbon , Rajpipla
*
Baroda Carbons Limited,Baroda
*
J.C.Chemical Industries, Surat
*
Mahavir Industrial Corporation,Ahmedabad
*
Nikhil Intermediates Pvt. Ltd , Gujarat
*
Raj Carbons Pvt.Ltd.,Gujarat
*
Shri Rajpipla Amar Carbon & Chemical Industries,Dist.Bharuch
*
Unique Carbon and Chemicals, Gujarat
*
Industrial Carbons Pvt. Ltd.,Ankleshwar
*
Shreema Chemicals P.Ltd.,Himachal Pradesh
*
**Indo German Carbons Ltd., Alwaye, Kerala
*
Balaji Chemicals,Karnataka
*
Gowrishankar Chemicals,Karnataka
*
Key-Sun Enterprises,Mumbai
*
Kemie Industries, Mumbai
*
Advance Agro-Tech, Mumbai
*
Chandra Chemical Industries,Thane
*
Daisy Industries,Thane
*
Eurofine Chemicals, Mumbai
*
Kan-Carbon (P) Ltd.,Delhi
*
United Active Chars (P) Ltd.,Delhi
*
Amar Indl. & Fine Chemicals, Punjab
*
Brilex Chemicals,Amritsar
*
Century Absorbents, Punjab
*
Hindustan Indl.Carbon Products,Punjab
*
Hosch Industrial Absorbents,Punjab
*
Shriram Carbon Sales P.Ltd.,Dist.Hoshiarpur
*
Barium International, Rajasthan
*
Beta Gama Chemicals (P) Ltd.,Jaipur
*
Rajeshwari Industries, Rajasthan
*
Coco Shell Carbon (P) Ltd., Coimbatore
*
Core Carbons P. Ltd., Coimbatore
*
Fermi Chemicals, Chennai
*
Metroblue Industries, Madurai
*
Southern Agro Chemicals (P) Ltd.,Chennai
*
Shell Carb, Vellore
*
VVD Crops and Chems Ltd, Tuticorin
*
Sri Balaji & Co.,Tamilnadu
*
Dass Rasayanik Carbo Udyog, Uttar Pradesh
*
Jains Carbons (P) Ltd.,U.P
*
Unicarbons & Chemicals, Ghaziabad
*
Arunodaya Industrial Corpn.,Calcutta
*
Global Enterprises, Calcutta
*
International Chemical Agenices, Calcutta
*
The Smitaja Chemicals P.Ltd., West Bengal
**
Indo German Carbon Ltd., has put up a joint venture with Kerala State Industrial
Development Corporation Ltd., (KSIDC), for 2500 tonnes per annum Activated carbon plant with
technology from Carbo Consult, Germany at a project cost of around Rs.15 crores at Kochi in
Kerala. The company is promoted by Galfar India Group and KSIDC.
6.
DEMAND SUPPLY TRENDS
Sectorwise demand
Sector
Demand
annum
Pharmaceutical
2630
Plasticisers
1750
Glucose/Dextrose Monohydrate/Sorbitol
1550
Vegetable Oil
32500
Miscellaneous sector
6100
Export Sector
400
Total
44930
in
tonnes
per
Indian demand is partly met by imports.
Likely growth rate in demand : 9 to 10% per annum
7.
MANUFACTURING PROCESS AND TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT
Activated carbon can be produced from any carbonaceous material, which on activation attain
porous structure and consequently a large surface area.
Raw materials such as wool, lignite, woods, coconut-shells, agricultural waste like bagasse, rice
husk are generally used for the manufacture of Activated carbons.
Raw materials having high carbon and low ash content are preferred. Coconut shell has been
found to be most suitable raw material for making gas adsorption grade Activated carbon.
>Activated carbon from Coconut shells
Carbon Resources LLC, Oceanside, California, USA, is to market coconut shell Activated Carbon
products throughout North America on behalf of Sri Lankan company, JB Carbon Activators.
Under the agreement, JB Carbon Activators will manufacture coconut shell granular and powder
Activated Carbons under Carbon Resource's quality control standards.
According to Carbon Resources, the demand for coconut shell carbon in water purification will
grow because of proposed stricter limits on the levels of Arsenic and Methyl tertiary butyl ether
(MTBE) in water.
Earlier, Carbon Resources signed an agreement to distribute natural char Activated Carbon to the
water filteration market in the USA on behalf of Tate and Lyle Process Technology, which is
based in Greenock, UK.
8.
GLOBAL SCENARIO
Demand for Activated Carbon:
Around 0.50 million tonnes per annum
Raw material
The wood based Activated Carbon accounts
for around 40% of the total world
production.
Major Producing Countries
The Philippines and Sri Lanka are
the major producers and exporters
of Activated Carbon.
Sri Lanka has increased its export
volume of Activated Carbon to
around 10,000 tonnes per annum.
Global growth rate in demand
2 to 3% per annum
9.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Activated Carbon manufacturers are increasingly looking to securing production bases in Asia,
where cost advantages can be obtained for both coconut shell and coal-based Activated Carbon.
Tamil Nadu is an ideal location for the project in view of the abundant availability of coconut
farms.
Recommended capacity
Estimated project cost
600 tonnes per annum
Rs.500 lakh
P. Pradeepkumar, managing partner, Activcarb. There are about 15 units in South India
making activated carbon from coconut shells.