Purification by means of activated carbon is possible as a result of the use of the phenomenon of adsorption. In simple terms, this phenomenon involves the accumulation of molecules of gases or fluids on the surface of a solid known as adsorbent.

ABy virtue of the type of interaction, adsorption can be divided into:

  • physical adsorption – it is based on intermolecular Van der Waals forces
  • chemical adsorption – the molecules and the adsorbent interact by way of chemical reactions

The type of adsorption can be specified on the basis of:

Heat of the process – it is low in the case of physical adsorption but high in the case of the relevant chemisorption reactions.

The reversibility of the process - the substance adsorbed by means of physical interaction can be easily removed in the process of regeneration, whereas the removal of a layer adsorbed chemically is difficult and requires drastic conditions.

The thicknesses of the adsorption layers – in the case of physical adsorption their thickness can be equal to several diameters of the adsorbent particles (at the right pressure and temperature), whereas chemisorption forms monomolecular layers.

Due to a high degree of purity and simplicity of use, activated carbon is an adsorbent with a wide range of applications. Adsorption does not cause any changes in the chemical composition of the purified medium, therefore the properties of activated carbons are utilized in many technological processes.

Specialized knowledge about the adsorption processes as well as years of experience of the engineering staff of ACES Sp. z o.o. allows for selecting an appropriate type of activated carbon so as to ensure that the purification effects fully meet the expectations of our clients.

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