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Physical and chemical activation of coal: what's the difference and which coal is better?
World-leading producers of activated carbon obtain their product in two main ways - physical and chemical activation.
Both methods make the coal porous, but the pores are different, and therefore the properties of the product change.
Physical activation (superheated steam and high temperatures)
How does it work?
Charcoal is exposed to steam that is superheated to a temperature of 900-1200 °C. The steam kind of "burns" the channels inside the coal structure, creating pores. The coal becomes as fluffy as popcorn.
What is the result?
• The coal becomes very clean, with no chemical residues.
• The pores are of different sizes, allowing the coal to capture both large and medium-sized organic contaminants.
• The material becomes highly durable, capable of withstanding large amounts of water.
• The absence of chemical reagents in the process makes the coal environmentally friendly, which is an important consideration when selecting a filter material for food processing. CarboClean's birch activated carbon helps to improve the organoleptic properties of finished products.
Benefits:
Chemical-free → safe for drinking water
Low ash content
Suitable for the food and pharmaceutical industries
Durable structure — works well in filters
Where is it better to use:
drinking water
industrial water treatment
food industry
pharmaceuticals
Chemical activation (phosphoric acid, KOH, zinc chloride, etc.)
How does it work?
The raw material is impregnated with a chemical reagent and heated at 400-800 °C.
The reagent "spreads" the coal structure and creates a network of micropores.
What is the result?
• Coal has a very large number of small pores (micropores).
Pros:
It is excellent at absorbing gases and small volatile compounds
It requires lower temperatures than physical activation
Cons:
— Chemical reagents must be thoroughly washed out (salt residue may remain)
— The environmental impact is higher
— Coal is more fragile
Where is it better to use:
gas purification
laboratories
organic solvents
industrial chemistry
Physical activation → the best choice for water, food, pharmaceuticals, and household filters.
Chemical activation → suitable for gases, solvents, and tasks with fine impurities.
Production note from UralKhimsorb: our SorbTech technology is an eco-friendly activation of woody birch charcoal using natural elements (fire, water, air) and with emission control (physical activation without chemistry). This solution is focused on clean industries where both efficiency and environmental friendliness are important.
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