Which Industries Can Powered Activated Carbon be Used in?

Powdered activated carbon (PAC) can be added before coagulation, during chemical addition, or during the settling stage, prior to sand filtration. It is removed from the water during the coagulation process, in the former cases, and through filtration, in the latter. As the name implies, PAC is in particulate form, with a particle size typically between 10 and 100 μm in diameter. One of the advantages of PAC is that it can be applied for short periods, when problems arise, then ceased when it is no longer required. With problems that may arise only periodically such as algal toxins or tastes and odors, this can be a great cost advantage. 

Powdered activated carbon is used in various amino acid industries, decolorization, purification, decontamination of  high pigment solutions such as refined sugar decolorization, MSG industry, glucose industry, starch sugar industry, chemical additives, dye intermediates, food additives, pharmaceutical preparations, etc.

Powdered Activated Carbon (PAC) has been used for a very long time as a treatment option due to its ease of use and economic advantages. PAC can be used either as dry or as a wet slurry, which is a mixture of carbon and water. A main disadvantage of powdered activated carbon is that after use it cannot be reactivated and is also sometimes difficult to dig out of water treatment reservoirs. The main economic advantages, “However, the low capital cost associated with PAC feed system combined with the ability to apply PAC seasonally or for periodic issues can make it an economic alternative based on an annualized cost.”1

PAC can be stored dry or wet. Dry can typically be stored in small 55 lb. bags while wet is transported and stored in a giant slurry. When held in a slurry form, PAC can solidify if sitting for too long a period. Periodic mixing is required to prevent this from occurring. PAC is stored in a wet slurry when it is expected to be used more frequently and stored dry when expected to be used less frequently. Dry storage can be less expensive, and doses can be more accurate. The facility must consider weight increase when transferring dry PAC into silos due to adsorbing moisture from air.