What’s the difference? Wood, Coconut, or Charcoal based filtration?

Most activated carbon filtration systems are manufactured from raw materials. Three common materials are coconut, charcoal and wood. These materials vary in density, hardness, surface areas, pore sizes, ash, pH and extractables.

Activated carbons are matched to the appropriate application based on these characteristic differences.

Coconut-based Filtration

Carbon filtration systems utilizing coconut-based raw materials offer high-efficiency filtration for the oil and gas industry. This is due to the fact that up to 90% of the surface area of coconut-based activated carbon consists of micro pores. These minuscule micro pores are approximately the same size as many contaminants, which naturally advances the ability of coconut-based activated carbon to capture contaminants.

Following are more reasons coconut-based carbon filtration is so popular in the gas and oil industry:

• Due to the vast surface area of micro pores, coconut-based systems provide excellent mechanical strength and resistance to wearing and attrition.
• Coconuts are a renewable source of carbon.
• Coconuts are readily available throughout the year with 3 to 4 harvests.
• Coconut trees may be preserved for several years.

Charcoal-based Filtration

Though less efficient than coconut-based activated carbon, charcoal activated carbon filtration still provides a substantial micro pore surface area. However, the efficiency and applications that are suited for charcoal-based systems depends on the type of charcoal used -- anthracite, bituminous or lignite.

• Bituminous charcoal-based activated carbon has a large micro pore surface area, high hardness, impact resistant and easy regeneration.
• Lignite charcoal-based activated carbon typically have a larger pore diameter than bituminous charcoal, which gives it about 20% greater pore volume. Lignite is suited for removing large molecular weight from chemical compounds.
• Anthratics charcoal-based activated carbon is processed through mixture, grinding, carbonization, extrusion and steam activation. Anthratics is widely used in fluid-phase and gas-phase purification absorption, due to its mechanical hardness and huge specific surface area.

  Wood-based Filtration

  While providing superb filtration, peat- or wood-based activated carbon systems are the least efficient when drawing comparisons between coconut raw materials and charcoal. Wood-based activated carbon characteristics consist of primarily meso and macro pores, which are better suited for capturing larger molecules.

NEIL RICHARDS, BSc, MPS

GENERAL MANAGER

As an Energy Industry Professional Neil has a well-rounded knowledge of what it takes to effectively produce oil and gas to maximize the benefit. For the past 34 years working in the Oil-Patch, Safety and Environmental Protection has always been important to Neil and his associates. Neil feels Energy Companies and the Industry have come a long way to do things better and safer while continuing to contribute to a Global Economy and continues to look at the future with a positive attitude.