Granular Activated Carbon Produced from Asphalt

A process for preparing granular activated carbon has been developed, utilizing petroleum residues such as asphalt. Successful pilot plant operations have been made.The process consists of three steps. They are char production, char activation, and exhaust gas treating. Granular char, hard and uniform, has been produced by reacting asphalt with fuming sulfuric acid or elemental sulfur.A co-current, two-step fluidized bed furnace with unique features developed by the authors has been used for activating char above obtained.The product has indicated some excellent properties such as large specific surface area, extensive methylene blue adsorption, characteristic pore distribution, and high mechanical strength. Some practical applications have shown promising results.