Chapter 2: Industrial Applications of Activated Carbon

This chapter deals with the major applications of activated carbon (AC). AC applications range from laboratory-scale experiments to industrial-level applications because AC has exceptional adsorption capacity, high porosity, larger internal surface area, ease of modification, and recovery and reuse potential. Its purification and separation applications are economical and environmentally benign due to its structural superiority. AC has various adsorption, purification, and catalytic applications including food processing, pharmaceuticals, beverages, metal recovery, and environmental appliances. It has been used for the removal of colouring and odorous compounds during water purification of municipal supplies for underground and recycled water. Furthermore, the removal of toxic gases from flue gases, recovery of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), removal of siloxane from engine exhaust gases, capture of landfill emitted gases, treatment of industrial wastewater, and recovery of precious metals are some typical industrial applications with high AC consumption. Mostly, for industrial applications, granular or structured AC is preferred over powdered AC. ACs in the form of carbon nanotubes (CNTs), carbon nanoparticles (CNPs), and graphene have a high surface area and thus are excellent choices for use as the base materials for catalyst preparation.