What Is Industrial Activated Carbon?

Industrial activated carbon is a highly porous carbon material with outstanding adsorption properties and a specific surface area of up to 1500–2000 m²/g or more. It serves as an indispensable “cleaner” for separating and purifying various substances. Activated carbon is used across multiple industries — from water purification and gold recovery to food processing and pharmaceuticals.
Its key features are high adsorption capacity, mechanical strength, and thermal stability.

Gold Recovery with Activated Carbon

In hydrometallurgy, gold is extracted from ore or solution through adsorption using activated carbon — the CIP/CIL process. This crucial step is followed by gold desorption and electrolysis, forming a closed recovery cycle.
In modern leaching schemes, cyanides are commonly used. Cyanide gold complexes are effectively captured by activated carbon, ensuring high recovery rates.

Raw Materials for Activated Carbon

Activated carbon is produced from any carbon-rich natural material. The choice depends on desired properties and economic factors.
Most commonly used raw materials are wood, bituminous coal, and coconut shell — the latter being the most efficient for processes such as gold adsorption on activated carbon.

Activated Carbon Production Technology

The production of activated carbon is a multi-stage process designed to create a porous structure. Its sorption characteristics — including gold adsorption efficiency — depend directly on production parameters.

Main stages include:

1. Raw material preparation — cleaning, drying, and grinding to a uniform size.
2. Carbonization — thermal treatment without air at 400–600 °C to create an initial carbon skeleton.
3. Activation — key stage; the porous structure develops and surface area increases. Two main methods exist: steam activation and chemical activation.
4. Drying and shaping — adjusting moisture content and forming granules, pellets, or powder.

Carbonization and Activation

Carbonization (pyrolysis) involves heating the feedstock in an inert atmosphere. Organic molecules decompose, leaving a carbon skeleton with small, often blocked pores.
Activation follows at 800–1000 °C using oxidizing agents (steam or CO₂), which burn off reactive carbon atoms, enlarging and creating pores — giving the material its high adsorption capacity.

In short, carbonization creates the base, while activation develops the porosity that defines the final product’s quality.

Types of Activation Methods

1. Steam Activation
   The most common industrial method. Carbonized material is treated with superheated steam at 800–1100 °C.
   • Pros: environmentally friendly, high product purity, suitable for large-scale production.
   • Cons: high energy consumption, requires precise temperature control.
2. Chemical Activation
   The raw material is impregnated with chemical activators (ZnCl₂, H₃PO₄, or KOH) and heated to 400–700 °C in an inert atmosphere.
   • Pros: lower temperature, high product yield, precise pore control.
   • Cons: complex reagent recovery, risk of residual chemicals, corrosion-resistant equipment required.

Manufacturers select the activation method based on raw materials, target parameters, and application — for example, gold adsorption in cyanide pulp systems.

Industrial Production and Quality Control

Industrial production of activated carbon is a highly automated, quality-controlled process.
Each batch is tested for specific surface area, adsorption capacity, abrasion resistance, and ash content.
For gold recovery, kinetic parameters of gold adsorption and desorption efficiency are also evaluated.

Large-scale facilities produce tens of thousands of tons annually, ensuring consistent product quality and reliable supply.

Conclusion

Industrial activated carbon is an irreplaceable material used in gold recovery, water purification, air treatment, and chemical and food industries.
In gold cyanidation, it ensures high adsorption of gold complexes, while optimized desorption systems enable efficient regeneration and reuse.

Kryptoniy activated carbon is certified according to GOST standards and has proven superior adsorption performance in gold extraction.
We supply high-quality carbon for gold recovery — contact us at info@kryptonium.com or call +7 (391) 275-49-68 for details.