Activated Carbon Elements

P E R RY E Q U I P M E N T C O R P O R AT I O N

ISO 9001

PECO
Activated
Carbon
Elements
effectively adsorbs
contaminants from
process streams.

E N G I N E E R E D F I LT R AT I O N T E C H N O L O G I E S
 P E C O AC T I VAT E D C A R B O N E L E M E N T S
are an effective and economical method of adsorbing

Activated Carbon
Adsorption is a purification process in which
cer tain impurities in a process stream are
attracted to the internal pore surfaces of a
carbon par ticle. The activation process greatly
increases the surface area internally of the
carbon. However, just having a large surface
area does not mean that a par ticular type of
carbon will adsorb more than another. What
often is more impor tant than the surface
area is the pore size; par ticularly when
contaminants of large molecular size need
to be removed. One must consider the
appropriate type of carbon for the application
in which it is to be used.

Figure 1, Small Molecule Large Molecule Oil Molecule

illustrates the effect that pore
size has on the adsorption
of contaminates. In a typical
gas treating process stream
such as amine or glycol, many
different size contaminates
are often present. If the pores
of a particular carbon are too
small, contaminates of larger
sizes can block the entrance
and greatly reduce the
“effective” surface area for
PECO has selected adsorption. For this reason
the lignite base PECO has selected a carbon
coal because it made from lignite coal.
provides high PECO carbon typically has
usable surface area a balance of both smaller Figure 1
for adsorbing micropores and larger meso
contaminates from and macropores to remove
process streams. all size contaminants.
OPERATING DATA
Canister Type
Recommended Element Change Out Differential . . . 8-10 psid
Figure 2 Maximum Operating Temperature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300˚F *
Core Collapse Strength . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90 psid
pH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0-14
PECO Bituminous * Provided as a guide if differential increases. Activated carbon
Lignite MEAN PORE Carbon MEAN PORE should be changed according to the methods described on
Carbon RADIUS 30A RADIUS 14A page 3. A prefilter is recommended before the carbon filter.
If no prefilter, the carbon acts as a filter and becomes plugged
with particulates, therefore, reducing adsorption life.

PECO carbon ( Figure 2) contains a large pore size that Product Specifications
provides high effective surface area for adsorption of Carbon . . . . . . . . . Lignite base activated carbon, acid washed
contaminates from process streams. Mesh . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 x 30 for canister
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 x 12 bulk pak
Canbody . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tin plated carbon steel
Core. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tin plated carbon steel
End Caps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tin plated carbon steel
Liners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Woven cotton
Gaskets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Combination assembly
Bail Handle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Carbon steel
d i s s o l v e d i m p u r i t i e s f r o m g a s , a i r, wa t e r, a m i n e s , g l y c o l s a n d o t h e r
p r o c e s s l i q u i d s . These impur ities, if left in the solution, can cause foaming, odor,
contaminant build-up and other process problems.

Applications Benefits
• Removes fouling agents from process
streams, thereby maintaining a high
ADSORBS level of scrubbing efficiency and avoiding
IMPURITIES costly down time.
Liquid Suspended
Hydrocarbon Solids • Removes hydrocarbon and degradation
Emulsions products from recirculating streams.
Corrosion Others
Inhibitors • Removes agents that cause foaming,
resulting in reduced amine, glycol, etc.
Color Dissolved make-up.
Bodies Organics
• Reduces need for anti-foam agents.
FROM
Selexol Sulfinol • Permits a reduction of process recircula-
tion rate and/or lower concentration
Hydrogen required, thereby reducing reboiler fuel
Water Amine consumption.

• Overall reduction of contaminants,

Glycol Other Lubricating reduces build-up in process equipment.
Oil May allow for increased gas thru-put.
PROCESS FLUIDS • Acid washing provides a more pure
carbon. All carbon contains ash content.
Acid washing reduces ash content which
contains iron.
PECO ACTIVATED CARBON PROPERTIES

PROPERTIES Canister Bulk

Mesh
Ash Content
8 x 30
12-15%
4 x 12
12-15%
Types of Carbon
Activated carbon is manufactured
Surface Area m2/g 650 600 from many carbon base substraits.
Some of these are:
Pore Volume ml/g 0.95 0.8
Carbon Type lignite lignite • Bituminous Coal
Moisture 12% 12% • Lignite Coal
Activation steam steam • Pulp Mill Black Ash
Molasses Decoloring 90% 90% • Sub-bituminous Coal
Molasses Number 350 350 • Petroleum Based Residues
Dusting .1–.3% .1–.3% • Coconut Shells
Iodine Number 625 625 • Peat
Abrasion 75 75
• Wood
Molasses No. — Measures the removal of black molasses. • Pecan Shells
Color removal — A measure of larger pore volumes - meso
and macro pores. Peco uses a lignite base coal due to
its adsorptive properties and hardness.
Molasses Decolorization — Measures color removal to a
standard carbon.
Iodine Number — A measure of small pore volumes - micro
pore.
Abrasion No. — Measure of hardness. Various methods to determine if car-
bon is spent.
A Regular maintenance schedule.
B Visual Examination: Take influent and efflu-
ent samples and compare. Effluent
should have a reduction in color. If not,
then carbon is spent.
C Shake Test: Take effluent samples. Shake
vigorously to create foam. If the foam
in the effluent does not break quickly,
then carbon is spent.
 Peco offers the Series 10FB, Fixed Carbon Adsorber for Fill
applications with high flow rates. Utilizing bulk carbon, the Peco Series 10FB
Fixed Bed
10FB is supplied with lignite based activated carbon 4 x 12
Bulk Carbon Vessel
mesh as standard along with non-activated coal based see brochure FS-10-TD-04
carbon filtran support bed.
INLET
This table below lists the bulk carbon that is typically
available from Peco.

BULK CARBON
4 x 12
PROPERTIES PACKAGING Bulk
8 x 30 Carbon 40 lb. bag, 24# / cu.ft. Carbon
4 x 12 Carbon 40 lb. bag, 24# / cu.ft.
#4 Filtran Suppor t Bed 53 lb. bag, 1 cu.ft. / bag
#5 Filtran Suppor t Bed 53 lb. bag, 1 cu.ft. / bag Clean
Out

OUTLET
Peco also provides activated carbon for other applications Filtran 4
such as Mercury Removal,Vapor Phase applications and Support
Bed Filtran 5
others. Consult factory. Support
Bed

CANISTER NOMENCLATURE

1122 C-AC

Nominal Dimensions: Carbon / Activated Carbon

O.D. x Length
619 = 6.625” x 19.125”
718 = 6.00” x 18.25”
719 = 7.25” x 19.125”
720 = 7.25” x 20.5”
1120 = 11” x 20.5”
1122 = 11” x 22.125”
1130 = 11” x 30.125”

Your local distributor :

Corporate Offices & Plant Perry Equipment Peco Filters, Ltd.

PERRY EQUIPMENT CORPORATION Corporation 1351 Hastings Crescent S.E.
Wolters Industrial Park S.E. ASIA REGIONAL OFFICE Calgary, Alberta
e-mail: P.O. Box 640 35-4 Jalan SP2/1 Canada T2G-4C8
fs @ pecousa.com Mineral Wells,Texas 76068 Taman Serdang Perdana, Seksyen2, Telephone: 403-243-6700
Telephone: 940-325-2575 43300 Sen Kembangan Telefax: 403-287-9304
web site: 800-877-PECO Selangor D.E., Malaysia e-mail: fscanada@pecousa.com
www.pecousa.com Telefax: 940-325-4622 Telephone: 603-8941-2366
e-mail: fs@pecousa.com Telefax: 603-8941-1366 European Offices & Plant
e-mail: pecosea@po.jaring.my PERRY EQUIPMENT LTD.
Houston Branch Office Rymer Point
1758 West Sam Houston Parkway N. Perry Equipment Barnham,Thetford
Houston,Texas 77043-3115 Italiana S.R.L. Norfolk 1P24 2PN
Telephone: 713-973-2575 via Camozzi, 106 England
Telefax: 713-467-0475 24121 Bergamo (BG) Telephone: 44-1-842-890-344
e-mail: hou@pecousa.com Italy Telefax: 44-1-842-890-450
Telephone: 3903-523-6340 Telex: 81611 PECO G
Telefax: 3903-523-6380 e-mail: sales@perr y-equipment.co.uk
EL-AC-SL-01 e-mail: peco.italy@tin.it www.perr y-equipment.co.uk
(LHA 11/00) Printed in USA