The performance indicators of activated carbon products can be divided into physical performance indicators, chemical performance indicators, and adsorption performance indicators.
The three performance indicators play a very important role in the selection and application of activated carbon.

1. The main physical performance indicators are: shape, appearance, specific surface area, pore volume, specific gravity, mesh number, particle size, abrasion resistance, floating rate, etc.

 

2. The main chemical performance indicators are: pH value, ash, moisture, ignition point, un-carbonized matter, sulfide, chloride, cyanide, sulfate, acid soluble matter, alcohol soluble matter, iron content, zinc content, lead content, arsenic Content, calcium and magnesium content, heavy metal content, phosphate, etc.

 
 

3. The main adsorption performance indicators are: methylene blue adsorption value, iodine adsorption value, phenol adsorption value, carbon tetrachloride adsorption value, caramel adsorption value, quinine sulfate adsorption value, saturated sulfur capacity, penetration sulfur capacity, water capacity, chloroethane vapor protection time, ABS value, etc.

 
Knowing the above points, it is not difficult to judge the performance of activated carbon.
 
The higher the adsorption value, the better the activated carbon performance. So how to easily identify the adsorption value of activated carbon without detection equipment? Here are a few easier methods for reference.
 
1.Check directly at the indicators provided by the manufacturer. The commonly used adsorption indexes of activated carbon are: iodine adsorption value, carbon tetrachloride (CTC) adsorption value, methylene blue adsorption value, iodine adsorption value is used to represent the adsorption capacity of activated carbon to liquid substances, while carbon tetrachloride adsorption value is used to represent the adsorption capacity of activated carbon for gaseous substances. Methylene blue adsorption value is used to indicate the de-colorization ability of activated carbon. With a higher value on these three indicators, it will reflect that the adsorption capacity of activated carbon is higher. Therefore, when you purchase activated carbon, you can choose the activated carbon suitable for your own use in combination with these indicators provided by the manufacturer.
  
 
2.Check out the volume: As mentioned above, if you wish to improve the adsorption performance of activated carbon, the key is to create pore structure on the activated carbon as much as possible. The more pores, the looser the activated carbon, and the lighter the relative density. Activated carbon will be lighter in feel, and under the same weight packaging. Activated carbon with good performance will have much larger surface area than inferior type of activated carbon.

1. Observe the bubbles. Put a small amount of activated carbon into the water. Due to the penetration of water, the water will gradually immerse into the pore structure of the activated carbon, forcing the air in the pores to escape, thereby creating a series of extremely fine bubbles. A small bubble line is drawn in the water, creating “Zzzzz” the sound of bubbles which is very interesting. The more intense and the longer this phenomenon could last, the better the adsorption of activated carbon.

 
 

1. Look at the decolorizing ability. Another manifestation of the adsorption capacity of activated carbon is the ability to de-color. Activated carbon has the “magical” ability to turn colored liquids into light or colorless, which is actually caused by the adsorption of pigment molecules in colored liquids by activated carbon. Because of this characteristic of activated carbon, it is widely used in the production process of brown sugar to white sugar in the sugar industry.

 
Take two transparent cups, pour pure water in one cup, and then release a drop of red ink (any pigment that is easy to observe but does not change the nature of the water can be used here, such as blue ink, printer color ink, (Ink and carbon inks cannot be used.) After mixing, pour half of the colored water into another cup for comparison. Put activated carbon in colored water, the amount should be half or more of the water, so the effect will be more obvious. After standing for 10 to 20 minutes, it will be compared with the comparison water sample. Under the same conditions, the stronger the de-colorization effect, the better will be the activated carbon adsorption.