Activated Carbon

What is HS-AC

Hydrosil’s HS-AC is a granular activated carbon (GAC) manufactured via high temperature steam activation from selected grades of coconut shell. Hydrosil’s HS-AC is designed for liquid phase applications. The HS-AC is high quality carbon with extraordinary surface area, fine pore structure, high density, and superior hardness. Hydrosil’s HS-AC for treating liquid phase uses macro and micro pore adsorption to remove contaminants.

HS-AC is NSF/ANSI/CAN 61 certified for potable water use.

Where is HS-AC Used

HS-AC is commonly used in oil and gas refineries, municipal drinking water, and industrial pollution control. Industrial projects that use HS-AC include groundwater treatment, stormwater run-off treatment, reverse osmosis systems, and removal of dissolved organics.

What is Activated Carbon

Activated carbon commonly referred to as activated charcoal is a highly porous material used to remove pollutants from contaminated liquid and gas streams. Activated carbon is derived from a variety of raw materials such as coconut, wood, coal (bituminous, anthracite, sub-bituminous, and lignite), peat, and bamboo. Each raw material has unique properties which effect the resulting pore structure, carbon content, and ash content, which are important characteristics when removing a contaminant of concern. The material is used in remediation, medical, and industrial applications where adsorption is required. Activated carbon has strong physical adsorption properties known as London Dispersion Forces which is a Van der Waals Force. The attraction between the activated carbon and the pollutant are highly dependent on the vapor pressure of the adsorbing molecules. Activated carbon is often altered or impregnated by chemicals to enhance the surface area of the carbon. When the carbon is chemically altered the bonds are much stronger than London Dispersion Forces. Chemicals often impregnated on activated carbon include potassium hydroxide, phosphoric acid, or sulfur. With the addition of chemicals the activated carbon will have an affinity for select compounds such acidic or basic pollutants.

Pressure Drop

Typical Physical Properties

Property: Value:
Iodine Number, mg/gm 1100 - 1200
Apparent Density, lb/ft3 29 - 31
U.S. Standard Sieve Size (Mesh Size) 8 x 30
Butane Number, % ww 23.5 (60 CTC)
Hardness, Min. (ASTM D-3802) 98
Ash, Max (ASTM D-2866) 3%
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Common Applications:

  • BTEX
  • Polychloro-biphenyl (PCB)
  • 1,2-dichloroethane (DCE)
  • Chlorine
  • Pesticides
  • Polynuclear-aromatic-hydrocarbons (PNA)
  • Trichloroethylene (TCE)

Case Studies:

Contaminated Stormwater Runoff

PFAS/PFOA Limits

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