Zeocarbon

Zeocarbon (also called activated charcoal and zeolite mixture) is the more general term which includes material mostly derived from charcoal and volcanic rock. It denotes a material which has an exceptionally high surface area, typically determined by nitrogen adsorption, and includes a large amount of microporosity. Sufficient activation for useful applications may come solely from the high surface area to enhance the absorbing properties of the material.

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Production and Re-activation

It can generally be produced mixing activated carbon and zeolite.

• Chemical re-activation: Mostly acids are mixed with the source material in order to cauterize the fine pores. This technique can be problematic because, for example, zinc trace residues may remain in the end product.
• Steam re-activation: The material is mixed with vapours and|or gases at high temperature to activate it.

Saturated zeocarbon can be regenerated by heating.

Properties

Zeocarbon may have a surface area in excess of 500 m²/g, with 1000 m²/gram being readily achievable. A tennis court is about 258 m².

Applications

Zeocarbon is used in air purification (especially in home plumbing vent pipes), wastewater treatment, filters in compressed air and gas purification, and many other applications.

Environmental applications

Zeocarbon absorption has numerous applications in removing pollutants from air streams both in the field and in industrial processes such as:

• Volatile organic compound capture from household plumbing, painting, dry cleaning and other processes

Zeocarbon overcomes the limitations of activated carbon alone by allowing the mixture to bind well to:

1. Alcohol (such as ethanol, methanol, isopropyl alcohol, glycols, and acetone)
2. Ammonia

Gas purification

Filters with zeocarbon are usually used in compressed air and gas purification to remove oil vapour, odor, and other hydrocarbons from compressed air and gas. The most common designs use a 1 stage or 2 stage filtration principle where zeocarbon is embedded inside the filter media.

References

• Engber, Daniel (Nov. 28, 2005). "How Does Activated Carbon Work?". Slate.

External links

• Zeocarbon: Adsorption Equilibria of CO2 on Zeolite 13X and Zeolite X/Activated Carbon Composite