Activated Carbon

With its immense capacity for adsorption from gas and liquid phases, activated carbon is a unique material. It occupies a special place in terms of producing a clean environment involving water purification as well as separations and purification in the chemical and associated industries. In these roles, it exhibits a remarkable efficiency. Effective use of activated carbon requires knowledge of the structure of its micro- and mesoporosity. Effective use also requires knowledge of the composition of the carbon surfaces on to which adsorption occurs and of the dynamics of adsorption to indicate its effectiveness in industrial use. Central to activated carbon are the activation processes which enhance original porosity, such processes using carbon dioxide, steam, zinc chloride, phosphoric acid and hydroxides of alkali metals. Mechanisms of the chemistry of these activation processes are set out. The concept of constituent graphitic crystallites within activated carbons is rejected. The concept of surface area is critically debated. This book, essentially, elaborates upon the origins of activated carbons, their structure and manufacture as well as their effectiveness for purification and separation.Marsh, Harry is the author of 'Activated Carbon', published 2006 under ISBN 9780080444635 and ISBN 0080444636.