How To Make Activated Carbon From Coconut Shell?

Coconut shell activated carbon is a highly efficient adsorbent material made from coconut shells. Due to its high hardness, low ash content, and excellent adsorption properties, coconut shell activated carbon is one of the most widely used types of activated carbon.

The production of coconut shell based activated carbon primarily involves the following steps: raw material processing, carbonization, and activation:

1. Raw Material Selection and Processing

First, high-quality mature coconut shells are selected. Indonesian coconut shells have higher hardness and abundant fibers. After collecting sufficient coconut shells, impurities and other debris are removed to ensure good quality during subsequent carbonization or activation processes.

2. Carbonization

Coconut shell fragments are placed in a high-temperature furnace. Under controlled conditions with limited oxygen supply, the organic materials within the coconut shells are decomposed through rapid heating, removing volatile components. The organic substances within the shells undergo reactions to convert into high-carbon-content solid materials, resulting in crude charcoal.

3. Activation Process

The activation process enhances the specific surface area and porosity of coconut shell charcoal, improving its performance in adsorption and impurity removal.

There are primarily two methods:

Steam Activation

• The carbonized coconut shells are treated with steam at temperatures between 800-1000°C.
• This creates a highly developed microporous structure, imparting efficient adsorption properties.

Chemical Activation

• The carbonized coconut shells are impregnated with chemical reagents (e.g., phosphoric acid or potassium hydroxide).
• It is then heated at a lower temperature (400-600°C) to obtain high-surface-area carbon.

Most coconut shell activated carbon used for water and air purification is produced via steam activation, as it ensures a cleaner, more environmentally friendly production process.

4. Crushing and Screening

After activation, the activated carbon is screened and processed to remove impurities and non-conforming activated carbon, ensuring that the produced coconut shell activated carbon meets standards and achieves high quality.

5. Purification and Drying

To remove residual impurities and ensure low ash content, the activated carbon undergoes acid washing and water washing. This enhances the purity and adsorption efficiency of the activated carbon. After washing, the activated carbon is dried to achieve a stable moisture content.

6. Quality Inspection and Packaging

Before delivery to customers, coconut shell activated carbon undergoes the following tests: iodine value (adsorption capacity), ash content, hardness, moisture content, etc. Finally, we package the activated carbon in 25-kilogram bags, large packaging bags, or custom packaging according to industrial and commercial requirements.

Applications of Coconut Shell Activated Carbon

Coconut shell activated carbon, with its high microporosity and excellent hardness, is widely used in:

• Water purification (drinking water, wastewater treatment)
• Air filtration and gas purification
• Gold recovery in the mining industry
• Food and beverage processing (sugar, alcohol, edible oil refining)
• Pharmaceutical and cosmetics industry

The production process of coconut shell activated carbon involves the careful selection of raw materials, carbonization, activation, crushing, washing, and testing. Each step is critical to ensure the final product has high adsorption efficiency and durability.