Carbon Resources

Technical Bulletin
THE CARE AND HANDLING OF ACTIVATED CARBON

Activated carbon adsorbent media is easy to use and easy to handle. If stored properly, it has an indefinite shelf life. It
is non-toxic and relatively nonflammable. If it has become wet or damaged through improper storage, it usually can be
dried out or restored easily. After it has become saturated with contaminants, it often can be reactivated to virtually its
original adsorptive capacity with only a slight volume loss during reprocessing.
Activated carbon is a form of commercially pure carbon typically manufactured from coal, wood, peat or coconut shell
having a microscopic physical structure. Each granule contains millions of tiny passageways or pores, which provide a
tremendous internal surface area and which accounts for its adsorptive power. The surface area of activated carbon is
typically 600 to 1200 square meters per gram depending upon the type and grade of product. It is used to purify air
and water, recover valuable vapors and liquids, catalyze chemical reactions and aid in the manufacture of highly purified
products. Activated carbon is available in a wide variety of granular sizes, powders, beads, shaped pellets, cloth, pads, and
fibers. The physical form used is dictated by the service application and in some cases, pressure drop considerations.
HANDLING AND STORAGE: Activated carbon is stable and can be stored for many years in its shipping container or
package if protected from contaminating vapors and liquids. Typical packaging options include large supersacks (1000
-2000 pounds), mini-supersacks (200 500 pounds), small bags (20 55 pounds), Gaylord type boxes (200-1000
pounds) and steel or fiber drums (50 200 pounds). Activated carbon deteriorates only by doing work, that is, by acting
as a catalyst or adsorbing vapors, gases and dissolved substances. Because it is relatively pure carbon, it is resistant to most
acids, alkalis, chemicals, and corrosive substances. Repeated heating and cooling has little effect on its physical structure.
(In solvent recovery plants, the adsorbent has been subject to as many as 10,000 heating and cooling cycles with no
appreciable breakdown of the granules or pellets.)
The best grades of granular activated carbon are hard and abrasion resistant, but methods of handling that tend to
grind the product should be avoided. In vapor treatment systems, a high-velocity or non-uniform air flow may cause
movement of the particles and rapid wear or breakage of the granules, particularly if the top of the carbon bed is not held
in place by a screen. Upward flow of fluid at high velocities during adsorption should be avoided, because it tends to
lift the granules and causes channeling. The method of handling activated carbon must be suited to the exact character
of the product being used. For example, a powder has different considerations in connection with its handling than
does a granular material. Impregnated carbons generally have somewhat lower ignition points than non-impregnated
carbons. There are exceptions to this, but one must give special attention to ignition points in connection with carbons
which have been impregnated or given other special treatments. Manufacturer product specification sheets and MSDS
information provide important details such as carbon ignition temperature.
For the purification of air in living and working spaces, the adsorbent should be reasonably dry. It is not sensitive to
moisture, but if it is dripping wet, its capacity will be reduced. If it has become saturated, it can be dried in an oven
at 200F to 250F. Wet activated carbon tends to corrode mild steel, aluminum, and some other metals. For wet
applications, stainless steel, monel nickel, plastic, glass or ceramics can be employed satisfactorily for container vessels.
For most dry applications, ordinary steel, aluminum, plastic or paper are suitable for container materials.

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Activated Carbon Products

2535 Jason Ct. Oceanside, CA 92056 760-630-5724 fax 760-630-9930 www.carbonresources.com

Carbon Resources

Technical Bulletin
If a particular grade of granular carbon contains too much dust or fine granules for a given application, they may be
removed by screening, air-hosing, or water-washing. The dustiness of most powdered carbons can be reduced by adding
10 to 30 percent moisture.
HEALTH AND SAFETY: Activated carbon is not toxic. Many types meet FDA Codex requirements for food grade
applications and many are also approved by AWWA and NSF for drinking water treatment. In addition, some grades of
activated carbon are USP certified and are taken internally for various medicinal treatments. Dust exposure is a concern
with some activated carbons and normal dust handling procedures should be used such as eye protection and dust masks
for personnel handling the carbon and room dust filters to keep dust level under control.
Activated carbon is combustible, but not easily ignited. In the absence of a forced draft, even hot activated carbon
supports combustion with difficulty and, under some conditions, will extinguish on its own accord. It should not be
subjected to a blast of air at temperatures above approximately 400F, however. Where high concentrations of vapors are
adsorbed, the heat of adsorption (adsorption is an exothermic reaction) may be sufficient to raise the temperature of the
carbon appreciably. In such cases, it may be best to operate with the carbon partially wet with water, as is typically done
in solvent recovery plants, or to reduce the vapor concentration by adding additional air.
VESSELS CONTAINING ACTIVATED CARBON: Care must be exercised in entering tanks or other enclosed spaces
which contain large quantities of activated carbon. It is recommended that before entering such spaces, the atmosphere
be tested for oxygen content, carbon dioxide or monoxide content, or other contaminants which might conceivably be
present in the space. As an example of the precautions stated herein; if a vessel which contains activated carbon and
which is large enough for the entry of a man needs to be repaired, inspected, or have the carbon replaced; the air space
should be ventilated by blowing in air. This precaution should be observed even though the carbon may not have been
used in service.
Activated carbon can react slowly with oxygen under certain conditions even at ambient temperatures and, although this
rate is sufficiently slow and no important amount of carbon is consumed nor any great weight of oxygen used, it may be
an important factor in the oxygen content in a space which has been tightly closed for a long time.
SERVICE LIFE: Activated carbon has a definite life or capacity in performing its function. When the limit has been
reached, the adsorbent should be replaced or reactivated. It is good practice to have at least one spare charge on hand so
that the original one can be replaced whenever necessary.
SPECIAL SERVICE CONDITIONS: Activated carbon is a powerful adsorbent and catalyst. Although most of its
reactions and properties are reasonably well known, it must be regarded with care in unusual circumstances. Activated
carbon can adsorb most types of molecules (there is a great difference in degree, depending on the type of molecule
adsorbed and the ambient conditions), and if the conditions change, the carbon can give up these molecules into the
surrounding space.
RESTORATION AND REACTIVATION: If contaminated with low boiling impurities, activated carbon may be either
partially or completely reactivated in an oven or furnace at 200F to 400F or treated with low pressure steam and then
dried. Granular activated carbon usually can be factory-reprocessed (reactivated) to make it almost equal in adsorptive
capacity to the original product.
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Activated Carbon Products

2535 Jason Ct. Oceanside, CA 92056 760-630-5724 fax 760-630-9930 www.carbonresources.com

Carbon Resources

Technical Bulletin
SPECIAL CARBONS: Carbons impregnated with metallic salts may require special handling because of irritation due
to dust particles. Carbons having especially high purity or low moisture content must be handled carefully to avoid
contamination or moisture pick-up. For special carbons, be guided by instructions furnished for that type or class of
carbons.
SHIPPING ACTIVATED CARBON: There are some transport regulations and restrictions with regard to the shipping
of activated carbon by land, air and ocean and these should be carefully observed. There are no special hazards with
most types of activated carbon, but apparently, there have been a few instances where carbon was the suspected source of
ignition which is the reason for the regulations.
Special impregnated activated carbons (used in respirators or for specific applications such as ammonia, formaldehyde or
radioactive iodine treatment) have chemicals added and require special handling and need to be kept away from oxidizing
agents and MSDS warnings should be heeded. In general, chemically activated carbon (such as phosphoric acid) needs a
higher level of attention and should also be stored separately from oxidizing agents. There is no history of well-prepared
steam activated carbon causing problems in shipping or storage. Activated carbon should not be compared with crude
charcoal or barbecue charcoal which has entirely different properties and which, from time to time, appears to have
spontaneous combustion.
BACTERIAL GROWTH: New, pure activated carbon will not support the growth of bacteria. However, carbon can
adsorb nutrients required by bacteria and, after such adsorption has taken place, it is possible for bacteria to grow on the
outside of the carbon granule and, to some degree, within the large pore entrances. Bacteria can be eliminated by heat
sterilization, high pH soak, low pH acid soak, or through the use of some other chemicals. There are types of carbon
available which contain biocides which do not add any poisonous substances to the water, but will control bacteria
growth. Bacteria which are free-floating in the water can be removed by activated carbon because it can act as a filtering
agent also.
APPLICATIONS: Activated carbon should be properly mixed with the fluid to be treated (powder form) or suitably
supported in the flow stream (granular form). Where it is used for the purification of liquids in a filter tank, the flow
system should be arranged so that pockets of air are eliminated, permitting the liquid to be in contact with the full charge
of carbon. Air or water that is to be purified by activated carbon should be free from dust or suspended matter that
might tend to plug the carbon bed. A particulate filter ahead of the carbon will eliminate this potential problem.
In addition to its use as an adsorptive agent, activated carbon can be used as an electrical conductor, an insulator, a sound
deadening agent, or for the adsorption of light.
Most spent activated carbon can be properly disposed of by sending to a reactivation facility, landfill, or incineration.
Hazardous spent activated carbon must be handled accordingly and sent to a RCRA approved facility for disposal.

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Activated Carbon Products

2535 Jason Ct. Oceanside, CA 92056 760-630-5724 fax 760-630-9930 www.carbonresources.com