Activated Carbon For Glucose Decolorization
What is the Role of Activated Charcoal in Decolorization?
Activated carbon plays a key role in the decolorization and purification of glucose solution, mainly removing high-molecular and low-molecular pigments, some of which come from the raw materials and some are formed during the manufacturing process.
Corn starch is converted into monosaccharides by hydrolysis with hydrochloric acid or enzymes, which is the so-called acid method or enzyme method [25,26]. The color of the sugar solution produced by the acid method is darker than that produced by the enzyme method, and more carbon is used.
In addition to decolorization, activated carbon treatment also reduces protein, 5-hydroxy methyl furfural (HMF), foaming substances and iron. If HMF is not effectively removed, the finished glucose will turn yellow during storage or ocean transportation. Therefore, HMF is considered to be a latent pigment and it is necessary to remove HMF, a low molecular weight substance.
HMF is a low molecular weight substance and should be treated with activated carbon with developed micropores; while pigments have larger molecules, so activated carbon with developed macropores or transitional pores should be used.
What is the Use of Activated Carbon in the Sugar Industry?
There are a large number of micropores and mesopores on the surface of activated carbon, and the size of these pores is similar to the size of pigment molecules.
When the glucose solution comes into contact with activated carbon, the pigment molecules will be adsorbed into the pores of activated carbon, thus achieving the purpose of decolorization.
There are generally two decolorization methods: fixed bed method and feeding method:
Fixed bed method
Granular activated carbon (GAC) is filled in a fixed bed reactor, and the glucose solution flows through the carbon bed, pigments and impurities are adsorbed, and a clear sugar solution is obtained.
This method is easy to operate and has a stable decolorization effect, but there are problems such as large flow resistance, slow permeation rate, and the activated carbon needs to be replaced regularly.
Feeding method
Powdered activated carbon (PAC) is directly added to the glucose solution, stirred for a period of time to complete the adsorption, and then the activated carbon is removed by filtration to obtain a decolorized product.
This method has a fast adsorption rate and high mass transfer efficiency, and is suitable for large-scale industrial production, but an additional filtration process is required to remove the activated carbon residue.
How to Use Activated Carbon for Glucose Decolorization
This section mainly introduces the feeding method:
Pretreatment
- Adjust pH: The optimal decolorization pH of glucose solution is between 4.5-6.0. Too high or too low will affect the adsorption performance of activated carbon.
- Heating temperature: The solution temperature is generally controlled at 50-80℃, which can increase the solubility of the pigment and enhance the adsorption effect.
Activated carbon addition:
- The dosage depends on the color and impurity content of the raw sugar solution, usually 0.1% – 1%.
- After adding the activated carbon, it needs to be stirred for 30-60 minutes to ensure sufficient contact and adsorption.
Filtration and post-processing
Filtering method
- Use a plate and frame filter press or membrane filtration system to remove carbon residue.
- Further precision filtration (such as ultrafiltration or microfiltration) is used to ensure that there is no residual carbon powder that affects the transparency of the product.
Re-bleaching (optional)
- For sugar solution with high pigment residue, secondary activated carbon treatment or resin adsorption can be used for deep decolorization.
Quality Inspection
- Test the color value, transmittance and other indicators of glucose and put it into use after meeting the standards.
Factors Affecting Glucose Decolorization By Activated Carbon
- Activated carbon types: Pore size matching affects decolorization ability.
- Dosage: Too little will affect decolorization, too much will increase costs.
- Glucose Solution pH: 4.5-6.0 is the best. Too acidic or alkaline will affect adsorption. The pH value of activated carbon is 2-4, 3-5.
- Temperature: 50-80℃ improves decolorization efficiency, but too high may cause caramelization.
- Contact time: 30-60 minutes is the best. Too short will result in insufficient adsorption, too long will affect production efficiency.
- Filtration method: Incomplete filtration will result in carbon powder residue affecting transparency.
How To Choose the Best Activated Carbon for Glucose Decolorization
Selecting the right activated carbon is crucial to ensure efficient decolorization of glucose. High-quality activated carbon should have high adsorption capacity, suitable pore structure and reasonable particle size distribution to ensure decolorization effect while optimizing economy and operating efficiency. In the process of glucose decolorization, different types of activated carbon have their own advantages. The following are two common application types:
Wood Powdered Activated Carbon
- It has a large specific surface area and rich microporous structure, and can quickly adsorb pigments and impurities in the solution.
- It has a fast adsorption rate and can effectively remove a small amount of pigments in glucose, making the sugar solution clearer and more transparent.
- It is suitable for general industrial uses, such as food-grade glucose, fermentation matrix, etc., and is widely used in small batch production or intermittent processes.
Coal Granular Activated Carbon
- It has good adsorption capacity, high wear resistance and mechanical strength, and can maintain stable performance in continuous production.
- It is suitable for fixed bed decolorization process and can be used for large-scale industrial production, especially in large-scale glucose production enterprises.
- Its strong structural stability enables it to maintain a high decolorization effect after long-term use, reduce replacement frequency, and improve production efficiency.
In actual production, the selection of appropriate activated carbon type should be based on comprehensive consideration of production scale, process conditions and decolorization requirements to ensure the best decolorization effect and economy.
Heycarbons Best Activated Carbon for Glucose Decolorization
Wood powdered activated carbon, use high-quality pine wood as raw material, and use high-quality phosphoric acid and high-temperature steam to open medium and large pores, which has the advantages of high submerged blue, high caramel value, and low ash content. readily capable of operating in equilibrium with the pH of the adsorption system.
For the production of food, pharmaceuticals or chemicals as well as for water treatment activated carbon is widely used for decolourization, removing dissolved organic compounds and for controlling odour and taste.
To minimize carbon usage rates in powdered activated carbon applications, a two or multi-stage process may offer advantages. The carbon adsorbs impurities until equilibrium is reached between the adsorbed phase and the impurity concentration in the liquid. In the stirring process or at low residual concentrations in the solution to be decolourized, the adsorption capacity of the activated carbon will not be exhausted after its first use.
To achieve economic optimum use of the adsorptive capacity, already part-loaded carbon used for the treatment of a low-strength, pretreated solution can be reused a second or third time for successively pretreating more highly concentrated solutions. The solutions so pretreated can then be treated to the final purity level with virgin carbon in a second step.
Heycarbons Wood Powdered Activated Carbon Specifications
| Heycarbons wood powdered activated carbon for glucose decolorization | |
|---|---|
| Iodine value | 950-1100mg/g |
| Methylene blue | 14-18 (0.1g/ml) |
| Ash | ≤8%, ≤7%, ≤6% |
| pH | 2-4,3-5 |
| Moisture | ≤10% , ≤5% |
| 200 mesh pass rate | ≥90% |
If you also need glucose decolorization, please contact Heycarbons. We will provide you with professional advice, suggestions and high-quality activated carbon products.
How to Make Activated Carbon for Glucose Decolorization?
Heycarbons wood powdered activated carbon for glucose decolorization is produced using a chemical phosphoric acid method. For more details, please watch the video:
Heycarbons Activated Carbon for Glucose Decolorization Customer Case
A customer wants to use activated carbon for glucose decolorization. After communication between Heycarbons professional sales staff and the customer, the final product specifications are as follows for your reference.
- 200 mesh
- Methylene blue ≥16 (0.1g/ml)
- Moisture﹤10%
- ASH﹤8% (Some customers also require ﹤6%)
- Iodine Value﹥900mg/g
- PH 2-4 (Some customers also require 3-5)
- Arsenic <3mg/kg
- In this transaction, the customer did’nt request a caramel value. If requested, it is usually 100-140%.
Custom Heycarbons Activated Carbon Solution For Glucose Decolorization
Heycarbons provides a full range of activated solutions at competitive prices.
What Clients Say on Our Activated Carbon
Customize Heycarbons Activated Carbon for Glucose Decolorization
Heycarbons has proudly served the activated charcoal industry with high-quality products since 2005, Heycarbons can customize your wood activated charcoal for your project.
- Customize different raw materials according to different applications.
- Customized size, iodine value , methylene blue, molasses value, PH, ash, etc.
- Cost-effective solutions customized according to customer applications.
- China leading and professional supplier of activated carbon.
Heycarbons Other Activated Carbon Solutions
Waste water Treatment
Supply of granular and powdered activated carbon for wastewatertreatment to remove COD. BOD, heavy metals, organics, acid odors, hydrocarbons, color, etc.
VOCs Removel
Our activated carbon can help remove volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from the air by removing contaminants and impurities.
Air Purification
Heycarbons provide 4mm, 0.9-8mm pelleted and impregnated pellet activated carbon, and granular carbon for various exhaust gas treatment, vapor recovery, and VOCs removal. biogas H2S removal, Cigarette filtration， etc.
Solvent Recovery
Heycarbons provide EAC carbon for high-end air purification or various gas solvent recovery, such as benzene toluene. Dichloro methane solvent recovery, tape factory solvent recovery, and others.
Food purification and Decolorization
Heycarbons provide 8*16, 8*30, 12*40 mesh bituminous or briquetting activated carbon for food and water decolorization and purification, such as Sugar, MSG, Juice and wine, Edible oil, glycerin, Sewage decolorization, Corn starch sugar, amino acid, etc.
Steps to Custom Activated Carbon For Glucose Decolorization
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
Heycarbons know you need to receive the product as soon as possible, after rigorous quality checks and protective packaging, by fedex shipping.
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