Activated carbon is a porous carbon material with a highly developed pore structure and a huge specific surface area, which is produced by activating carbon-containing raw materials such as wood, coconut shells, and coal. In the beverage industry production, activated carbon, due to its outstanding adsorption performance, plays a crucial role in refining and purification, and is mainly applied in the following core links:
High-efficiency decolorization: Raw materials such as sucrose, beet sugar, and caramel color often contain natural or processed pigments that affect the color of the final product.
Activated carbon, with its microporous and mesoporous structure, efficiently and selectively adsorbs and removes these pigment molecules (such as macromolecular components in black pigment and caramel pigment) through physical adsorption and partial chemical action, significantly improving the color of syrups and final beverages, ensuring their clarity and transparency or meeting the expected color standards (such as in the pretreatment of syrups for cola-like beverages).
Odor and unpleasant smell removal: Unpleasant smell substances such as earthy, musty, and chemical odors (such as geosmin, 2-methylisoborneol, sulfides, etc.) may be introduced or produced in water sources, raw materials (such as beet sugar, fruit juice), or during processing.
Activated carbon has an extremely strong adsorption capacity for low-concentration and moderately molecular organic substances, effectively capturing and removing these trace odor-causing substances, significantly enhancing the flavor purity and sensory quality of beverages (especially mineral water, purified water, fruit juice, and tea drinks).
Removal of colloids and suspended solids
Fruit juice, plant extracts, fermented beverages and the like often contain colloids, proteins, polyphenol polymers, and tiny suspended particles, which can easily lead to product turbidity, sedimentation or a decrease in stability.
Activated carbon can adsorb some colloids and unstable high-molecular substances, reduce turbidity, and assist in improving the clarity and physical stability of the product. It is often used in combination with other clarification techniques, such as diatomite filtration and membrane filtration.
Removing specific impurities and pollutants: Activated carbon can adsorb some pesticide residues, organic solvents, chlorination by-products (such as trichloromethane), some heavy metal ions (requiring specific modification), and possible trace organic pollutants, serving as one of the safeguard measures to enhance the safety of beverages.
Activated carbon is usually in the form of powdered carbon (PAC) for adsorption through stirring and contact in specific process sections (such as sugar solution treatment, water treatment), or is used as a pre-coating in filtration systems.
The contact time, temperature, pH value, carbon type selection and dosage should be strictly optimized according to the characteristics of the raw materials and the processing goals.
The activated carbon that has reached adsorption saturation must be thoroughly removed through precise filtration (such as plate and frame filtration, membrane filtration) to prevent the residue of carbon particles from affecting the appearance and taste of the product.
Activated carbon is an indispensable functional refined agent in the beverage industry. It plays a core role in decolorization, deodorization, clarification and ensuring safety through highly efficient adsorption, significantly enhancing the sensory quality, stability and safety of beverage products. Although there is no residue of it in the final product, its refining effect has been deeply integrated into the clear appearance, pure flavor and reliable quality of the beverage.
https://www.naturecarbon.com/wood-based-activated-carbon/wood-based-powdered-activated-carbon.html
