There are significant differences in structure and function between impregnated activated carbon and ordinary activated carbon. The following are the main differences between the two:
The modification methods
Ordinary activated carbon only forms a porous structure through physical activation (such as water vapor or carbon dioxide), while impregnated activated carbon undergoes chemical modification on this basis, enhancing its selective adsorption capacity by loading specific chemical reagents (such as acids, bases or metal salts).
Adsorption performance difference
Ordinary activated carbon relies on physical adsorption and mainly removes non-polar substances such as organic matter and pigments. Impregnated activated carbon can efficiently capture specific pollutants such as hydrogen sulfide and heavy metal ions through chemical adsorption. For instance, the adsorption capacity of desulfurization carbon for H₂S can reach 3 to 5 times that of ordinary carbon.
Pore structure change
The impregnation process partially fills the micropores, but through the cremation process, a new mesoporous structure can be formed, making the impregnated carbon more suitable for scenarios with high gas diffusion requirements (such as waste gas treatment).
The application fields
Ordinary activated carbon is mostly used for broad-spectrum adsorption in water treatment, air purification and other fields. Impregnated activated carbon is specifically used in special fields such as chemical desulfurization and heavy metal wastewater treatment, and is more targeted.
Cost and lifespan
Impregnated activated carbon, due to its complex process, costs 30% to 50% more than ordinary carbon, but its service life can be extended by 2 to 3 times in specific scenarios.
https://www.naturecarbon.com/coconut-shell-activated-carbon/impregnated-activated-carbon.html
