About Activated Carbon

Activated carbon, sometimes called activated charcoal, is a highly porous form of carbon processed to maximise its internal surface area—often exceeding 3,000 m² per gram. This extreme porosity enables it to adsorb a wide range of gases, vapours, and dissolved molecules. It is typically produced from carbon-rich materials such as coconut shells, wood, coal, or petroleum coke. These precursors are activated using thermal or chemical methods to create a dense network of micro‑, meso‑, and macropores. Activated carbon is supplied in several physical forms including powdered (PAC), granular (GAC), extruded pellets, and activated carbon cloth depending on the application.

Production involves carbonising the organic feedstock under controlled conditions, followed by activation—either through high‑temperature steam/CO₂ or chemical agents like phosphoric acid or potassium hydroxide. These activation steps develop the characteristic pore structure. Because of its versatile adsorptive properties, activated carbon is used across industries including water and wastewater treatment, air purification, food and beverage processing, pharmaceuticals, mining (e.g., gold recovery), and emergency medicine.

Activated Carbon Uses

Water & Wastewater Treatment

Activated carbon is extensively used in municipal and industrial water and wastewater systems to remove organic contaminants such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), tastes and odours, chlorine, pesticides, pharmaceuticals, and more. Granular activated carbon is typically installed in filter vessels, while powdered forms may be dosed directly into process streams for contaminant adsorption and polishing.

Air & Gas Purification

In both industrial ventilation and ambient air systems, activated carbon adsorbs airborne pollutants including VOCs, odours, solvent vapours, and hazardous gases. Specialized impregnated or treated carbons are tailored for specific targets such as mercury, hydrogen sulfide, or formaldehyde. Extruded or pelletized forms offer low-pressure drop and mechanical integrity for gas-phase applications.

Gold Recovery & Industrial Processing

Activated carbon is vital in the mining sector, particularly for gold recovery using carbon-in-pulp or carbon-in-column techniques where dissolved gold-cyanide complexes are adsorbed. In broader industrial settings, it is also used for solvent recovery, decolourization, purification, and separation processes in fine chemical and pharmaceutical manufacturing.

Medical, Food & Consumer Applications

In emergency medicine, pharmaceutical-grade activated carbon is administered to treat poisonings and overdoses by binding toxins in the digestive tract. It is also used in food and beverage industries for decolourizing edible oils and juices, and in consumer goods like teeth-whitening products, odour control items, and skincare formulations—though the effectiveness of some consumer uses may vary.

Activated Carbon Supplier Australia, USA & More!

Redox are trusted, authorised suppliers of activated carbon. With distribution centres worldwide, we can supply to Australia, USA, UK, NZ, Europe, Asia and more. Get in touch with our expert team, who can help you order the right product, form and amount for your needs.