Coal-based granular activated carbon has become the main force in industrial water treatment due to its high adsorption, low cost and large-scale supply capacity. This article focuses on the parameters and unique advantages that customers are most concerned about to help you make scientific selections.
1. Core parameters that customers must read
| Parameters |
Industry standards |
Impact on water treatment |
| Iodine adsorption value |
≥900 mg/g |
Determines the removal rate of small molecule organic matter (phenol, antibiotics) |
| Methylene blue adsorption value |
≥120 mg/g |
Affects the decolorization ability of pigments and macromolecular colloids |
| Particle size |
8-30 mesh (mainstream) |
Balance adsorption efficiency and pressure drop (optimal flow rate 10-15m/h) |
| Bulk density |
0.45-0.55 g/cm³ |
Related filling volume, affecting equipment size design |
| Abrasion strength |
≥95% |
Reduce backwash loss and extend service life |
| Ash content |
≤8% (drinking water grade ≤3%) |
Avoid the risk of heavy metal (Pb/As) dissolution |
|
II. Five unique advantages of coal-based carbon
Cost reduction
Unit price ￥5,000-7,000/ton (coconut shell carbon ￥12,000+), 40% reduction in water treatment cost per ton
Case: A 100,000 tons/day water plant switched to coal-based carbon, saving ￥3.8 million in material costs per year
Strong acid tolerance
pH 2-10 stable operation (the adsorption rate of coconut shell charcoal drops by 20% when pH <4)
Particularly suitable for electroplating wastewater (pH ≈ 3) and pickling wastewater treatment
Regeneration advantage
The thermal regeneration tolerance is better than wood charcoal, and it can be recycled 5-8 times (loss rate <10%)
A chemical park measured: the iodine value retention rate of regenerated carbon is >85%
Anti-biological contamination
Surface hydrophobicity inhibits the growth of bacterial film, and the backwashing frequency is reduced by 50%
Comparative experiment: coal-based carbon filter tank runs for 6 months without clogging, and fruit shell charcoal needs monthly chemical cleaning
Customization flexibility
Adjustable pore size: micropores (<2nm) adsorb pesticides/antibiotics, and mesopores (2-50nm) capture humic acid
Case: Customized 1.5- 3nm pore carbon, COD removal rate increased to 92%
III. Actual combat cases – data speaks
Case 1: Deep treatment of municipal drinking water
Background: A water plant in the north, the raw water is polluted by agriculture (atrazine pesticide residue 0.1mg/L)
Solution:
Coal-based granular carbon (iodine value 950mg/g, particle size 12-30 mesh)
Filtration rate 12m/h, contact time 15 minutes
Results:
Effluent atrazine <0.001mg/L (national standard limit 0.002mg/L)
The cost per ton of water is only ￥0.06, which saves 35% compared with the coconut shell carbon solution
Case 2: Decolorization of printing and dyeing wastewater
Background: Zhejiang Textile Factory, wastewater color 500 times (dilution multiple), COD 800mg/L
Solution:
High methylene blue value coal-based carbon (180mg/g) + ozone catalysis (O₃/C=3:1)
Results:
Color dropped to 10 times, COD＜80mg/L
Activated carbon consumption 1.2kg/ton of water, cost is only 1/5 of resin adsorption method
