Activated Carbon Furnace is the core equipment in the production of high-quality activated carbon. It provides the necessary thermal environment for the carbonization ve activation processes, transforming raw biomass or coal into porous activated carbon with a high adsorption capacity.

Due to increasing demand for water purification, air treatment, and energy storage applications, industries worldwide are investing in advanced activated carbon furnaces to ensure stable production, energy efficiency, and environmental compliance.

---

1. What is an Activated Carbon Furnace?

An Activated Carbon Furnace is a specialized high-temperature thermal system designed to process raw materials such as coconut shells, wood, nutshells, bamboo, coal, or petroleum coke. It operates under controlled atmosphere conditions to convert these raw materials into activated carbon.

The furnace can serve two primary functions:

1. Carbonization – Heating raw materials in a low-oxygen environment (400–700°C) to remove volatile substances and produce char.
2. Activation – Treating the char at higher temperatures (800–1000°C) with oxidizing gases (steam or CO2) to develop microporous and mesoporous structures, which greatly increase surface area.

---

2. Main Types of Activated Carbon Furnaces

2.1 Carbonization Furnace

• Used for the initial pyrolysis of raw materials.
• Operates in oxygen-limited conditions.
• Types: Batch carbonization furnace, continuous carbonization furnace, and rotary carbonization furnace.

2.2 Activation Furnace

• Used after carbonization to create pores.
• Steam or CO2 is introduced to react with carbon at high temperature.
• Types: Rotary activation furnace, vertical activation furnace, fluidized bed activation furnace.

2.3 Rotary Furnace for Activated Carbon

• The most popular type for large-scale continuous production.
• Features:
  • Rotating cylinder ensures uniform heating.
  • High throughput capacity.
  • Suitable for coconut shell activated carbon, coal-based carbon, and bamboo carbon.

2.4 Batch Activated Carbon Furnace

• Small-scale, cost-effective, and flexible.
• Suitable for laboratories or pilot production lines.

---

3. Structure of an Activated Carbon Furnace

A standard activated carbon kiln includes:

1. Furnace Body – High-temperature-resistant steel and refractory lining.
2. Heating System – Gas burners, electric heaters, or biomass fuel systems.
3. Temperature Control System – PLC or digital controllers.
4. Gas Supply System – Steam generators or CO2 pipelines for activation.
5. Cooling Section – Rapid cooling chambers to prevent spontaneous combustion.
6. Dust Collection and Exhaust System – Ensures compliance with environmental standards.

---

4. Working Principle of Activated Carbon Furnace

Step 1: Carbonization

Raw materials are fed into a carbonization furnace and heated at 400–700°C in limited oxygen. Volatile matter is driven off, producing char.

Step 2: Activation

The char is transferred into an activation furnace (such as a rotary furnace). High-temperature steam or CO2 reacts with the carbon:

• C + H2O → CO + H2
• C + CO2 → 2CO

These gas–solid reactions etch the carbon structure, forming micropores and mesopores.

Step 3: Cooling and Collection

Activated carbon is cooled in an inert environment and then collected for screening and packaging.

---

5. Advantages of Activated Carbon Furnaces

1. High Production Efficiency
   • Rotary activation furnaces can run continuously, handling tons of raw material per day.
2. Energy Saving
   • Waste heat recovery systems reduce fuel consumption by 15–20%.
3. Uniform Product Quality
   • Precise temperature and gas flow control ensure stable pore structures.
4. Versatile Raw Material Adaptability
   • Capable of processing coconut shells, bamboo, coal, and other feedstocks.
5. Eco-Friendly Operation
   • Equipped with dust removal and exhaust treatment systems.

---

6. Applications of Activated Carbon Furnace

• Water Treatment – Drinking water purification, wastewater treatment.
• Air Purification – Industrial exhaust gas filtration, VOC removal, indoor air systems.
• Chemical Industry – Catalyst carrier, solvent recovery.
• Pharmaceutical Industry – Drug decolorization, toxin adsorption.
• Food and Beverage – Sugar refining, alcohol purification.
• Energy Storage – Lithium battery anodes, supercapacitor carbon.

---

7. How to Choose the Right Activated Carbon Furnace?

1. Production Scale – Small labs may use batch furnaces; large factories require rotary kilns.
2. Raw Material Type – Coconut shells prefer rotary kilns; coal may use vertical furnaces.
3. Energy Source – Choose between gas, electricity, or biomass heating.
4. Automation Level – Advanced PLC systems reduce labor costs and improve stability.
5. Environmental Compliance – Ensure furnaces have gas scrubbing and dust filtration systems.

Activated Carbon Rotary Kiln Parameter

capacity	5-8t/d	8-10t/d	10-12t/d	12-15t/d	15-20t/d
Dryer model	HG-800	HG-1000	HG-1200	HG-1500	HG-1800
Dryer power	3kw	4kw	7.5kw	15kw	22kw
continuous carbonization furnace model	TH-1500	TH-1500	TH-1800	TH-2000	TH-2000
Carbonization temperature	600-850℃
Fixed carbon content after carbonization	70-80%
Carbonization furnace drum material	309S/310S	309S/310S	309S/310S	309S/310S	309S/310S
Activation furnace model	HN-5	HN-8	HN-10	HN-12	HN-15
Activation furnace power	15kw	22kw	30kw	37kw	37kw
Activation furnace chamber material	QQ345+nano thermal insulation board+refractory
Activation temperature	850-950℃
Activator	Water vapor or Phosphoric acid (customized according to customer requirements, equipment design will be updated)
Activation time	1-2h
Cooling machine model	GTL-1004	GTL-1204	GTL-1206	GTL-1504	GTL-1506
Temperature after cooling	≤40℃
Activated carbon crusher model	SGP-400	SGP-400	SGP-600	SGP-800	SGP-800
Activated carbon finished product size	4-60mesh
Activated carbon iodine value	800-1300mg/g
Activated carbon specific surface area	800-1500m²/g
Activated carbon strength	≥95
CTC	≥60%
Filling density	0.45-0.55g/cm3
Activated carbon ash	≤3%

Activated Carbon Rotary Kiln Video