Activated Carbon For Butanol Purification Heycarbons Manufacturer From China
What can Be Removed from Butanol Using Activated Carbon?
Traditional bio-fermentation (ABE fermentation) uses sugars or starches (corn, molasses, etc.) as substrates and utilizes anaerobic bacteria such as Clostridium acetobutylicum to ferment the sugars into:
A (Acetone) + B (Butanol) + E (Ethanol)
A typical ratio is approximately:
Butanol : Acetone : Ethanol ≈ 6 : 3 : 1
In addition to these three main products, fermentation broth often contains many impurities:
Pigments and Melanin-like Forms
Complex, large-molecule colored substances produced by microbial metabolism during fermentation.
These pigments can cause butanol to turn yellow or darker, affecting the product’s appearance and grade.
Activated carbon’s excellent decolorizing ability can make it clear and transparent.
Fermentation Byproducts and Inhibitors
In addition to the target products butanol, acetone, and ethanol, the fermentation broth may also contain small amounts of organic acids (such as acetic acid and butyric acid), aldehydes and ketones (such as acetaldehyde, butyraldehyde, and acetone), and other fusel oils.
Some byproducts may inhibit the fermentation strain itself or form azeotropes during subsequent distillation, increasing separation difficulty and energy consumption.
Using activated carbon to remove them in advance can improve fermentation efficiency and product recovery rate.
Proteins, polysaccharides, and other colloidal substances
Sources: Incompletely decomposed culture medium components, bacterial autolysates, etc.
These substances may cause the fermentation broth to thicken and foam, and lead to scaling and coking in equipment during subsequent evaporation and distillation processes.
Trace metal ions
Generated due to equipment corrosion, which may affect downstream applications.
Activated Carbon For Butanol Adsorption Principle
Physical Adsorption
Activated carbon possesses an extremely high specific surface area (500–1500 m²/g) and a well-developed microporous structure (<2 nm), enabling it to effectively adsorb small and medium-sized organic molecules, such as aldehydes, acids, pigments, and esters.
Chemical Adsorption
The carboxyl and phenolic hydroxyl groups on the surface of activated carbon can chemically bind to or neutralize highly polar or dissociable impurities (such as acids and aldehydes).
π-π Interactions
The graphitic microcrystalline structure on the surface of activated carbon interacts with the π-electron system of impurity molecules, making it particularly effective for aromatic or conjugated impurities (such as aldehydes and ketones).
The well-developed microporous structure and surface functional groups of activated carbon enable it to selectively adsorb impurity molecules in butanol, while its adsorption of the main butanol molecules is relatively weak. Therefore, it can effectively remove impurities without significantly depleting butanol.
Activated Carbon For Butanol Purification Process
Activated carbon plays a crucial role in three key stages of the entire fermentation process, from production to product refining. Different types of activated carbon are used at different stages, which will be explained in detail below:
1. Fermentation Broth Pretreatment Stage (Decolorization and Impurity Removal)
Purpose: To reduce the load on the distillation column and remove organic impurities that affect separation efficiency.
Process Location: The fermentation broth enters the pretreatment system after solid-liquid separation (centrifugation/filtration).
Typical Flow
Fermentation broth → Centrifugation/Filtration → Activated carbon adsorption tower (or stirred adsorption tank) → Clarified liquid → Distillation section
Activated Carbon Functions
- Adsorbs fermentation byproducts (aldehydes, acids, pigments);
- Improves liquid transparency;
- Reduces odor and prevents scaling and catalytic poisoning in subsequent distillation columns.
Wood Powdered Activated Carbon
- Wood-based powdered activated carbon;
- Iodine value: 800–1000 mg/g;
- Particle size: Approximately 200 mesh;
- Dosage: 0.3–0.5 wt% (based on liquid mass);
- Stirring and adsorption time: 20–60 minutes;
- Temperature: 30–50 °C.
2. Butanol Crude/Rectifying Section Tail Gas Purification (Steam or Organic Gas Deodorization)
During the distillation and refining process, the gas at the top of the butanol column contains low-boiling-point impurities (such as acetaldehyde, ethanol, and butanone) and may also contain odorous organic gases.
Activated Carbon Functions
- For gas-phase adsorption purification of column top tail gas or condensate;
- Removal of aldehydes, ketones, and organic acid vapors;
- Reduction of odor emissions.
Coconut Shell Pelletized Activated Carbon
- Coconut shell extruded activated carbon
- CTC 60–70%
- Size: 4 mm
- Empty bed contact time (EBCT): 10–15 minutes;
- Can be configured with a dual-tower alternating regeneration system.
3. Product Refining and Deodorization Stage (Butanol Post-treatment)
In the production of high-purity butanol (>99.5%) or specialty butanol, a final “refining and deodorization” step is still required.
Process Flow
Butanol distillation → Refining filtration system → Activated carbon deodorization column → Finished product storage tank
Activated Carbon Function
- Removes extremely low concentrations of organic acids, aldehydes, pigments, and odorous compounds;
- Improves the purity and sensory quality of the finished product;
- Ensuring that color, acid value, and odor meet standards.
Coconut Shell Granular Activated Carbon
- Coconut shell granular activated carbon
- 8*30 mesh
- Iodine value: 1000mg/g min.
- pH 6.5-8.5
- Bulk density: 0.45–0.55 g/cm³
- EBCT: ≥ 10 min
- Replacement cycle: 3–6 months (depending on impurity content)
Activated Carbon For Butanol Adsorption Customer Case
A customer is using activated carbon in a butanol decolorization tower, where the medium is mainly butanol with a negligible amount of propanol. The operating pressure is 0.5 kPaG. This customer previously used nut shell activated carbon (40-70 mesh).
Heycarbons offers the following solution based on customer’s specific application:
- Nut shell activated carbon, 12-40 mesh, iodine value ≥950mg/g.
- Nut shell activated carbon is significantly better at decolorizing than coconut shell activated carbon, with moderate resistance and easy filtration.
- Nut shell activated carbon with an iodine value of 950mg/g can achieve a decolorization rate of over 95% for butanol.
- The decolorization rate is closely related to the concentration of butanol and the amount of activated carbon used. To reduce the amount of activated carbon used, activated carbon with an iodine value ≥1000 mg/g or ≥1100 mg/g can be used.
Note:
Although activated carbon has an alkaline pH, butanol has a pH of around 7, the butanol product will not be affected during the treatment process.
The impact of using activated carbon directly is also minimal, because butanol can wash away the black powder when it is first used.
If customers are overly concerned, they can soak the activated carbon in butanol before filtration.
Nut shell activated carbon for butanol decolorization
The customer requested a mesh size of 45-80, as a smaller mesh is more conducive to adsorption and butanol decolorization. While minor issues like filter clogging may occur, these can be resolved by cleaning the screen once or twice.
The final determined activated carbon specification for butanol decolorization is: nut shell activated carbon, 45-80 mesh.
Click the link below, Heycarbons can provide economical and efficient activated carbon solutions based on customers’ actual applications and specific needs.
Custom Heycarbons Activated Carbon Solution For Butanol Production
Heycarbons provides a full range of activated solutions at competitive prices.
What Clients Say on Our Activated Carbon
Customized Heycarbons Activated Carbon
Heycarbons has proudly served the activated carbon industry with high-quality products since 2005, Heycarb can customize activated carbon for your butanol production project.
- Customized activated carbon in different materials and shapes according to different requirements.
- Customized raw materials, shape, size, CTC, iodine value, pH, etc.
- Cost-effective solutions customized according to customer applications.
Call Us
+86-180 3788 5195
Our Email
info@heycarbons.com
Steps to Custom Activated Carbon For Butanol Purification
Consultation
By understanding your needs and requirements, our salesmen work with you to submit the appropriate activated carbon solution.
Quotation
Heycarbons expert customer service will provide you with a free quote based on your requirements as well as product specifications and quantities.
Production
Heycarbons has sufficient inventory and strong production capacity, and will report production progress to you from time to time.
Shipping
Heycarb know you need to receive the product as soon as possible, after rigorous quality checks and protective packaging, by fedex shipping.
Heycarbons Activated Carbon FAQs
Heycarb provides on demand activated carbon solutions worldwide, product quality and customer service are highly rated by our partners and customers.
- Testing of selected raw materials
- Comprehensive display and monitoring of production temperature and time
- Sampling inspection of finished products
- Support any form of third-party testing , such as SGS
1. T/T Deposiit + Balance against copy of B/L
2. L/C
3. T/T deposit + L/C for balance
1. If necessary, the technician can go to the site to guide .
2. Order goods are consistent with the sample and TDS
3. Any quality problems occur, the seller will provide solutions within 24 hours.
4. If the package is damaged due to the seller’s negligence, resulting in a shortage of goods,
the seller should make compensation based on mutual agreement.
For customers’ trial orders, we actually do not have a specific MOQ, any amount is acceptable.
We have to choose a cost-effective transportation method and quantity based on your specific situation.
Normally , 5-7days , also depend on quantity
Yes, we provide samples for free.
Normally 25kgs/bag , 20kgs/bag , 500kgs/bag , black bag
Support any OEM drawing design bag .
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