ACTIVATED CARBON

1.

PRODUCT CHARACTERISTICS
Powder,
Form
Pellets
Granules
Liquid phase or de-colouring carbon.
Grade
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.

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

Water soluble(%)

0.5

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

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

3.

IMPORTS

Around 1000 tonnes per annum

4.

EXPORTS

Around 2500 tonnes per annum

5.

INDIAN MANUFACTURERS

water
fine

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

in

tonnes

per

Miscellaneous sector

6100

Export Sector

400

Total

44930

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:

Raw material

Major Producing Countries

Global growth rate in demand

Around 0.50 million tonnes per annum

The wood based Activated Carbon accounts
for around 40% of the total world
production.
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.
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