Food and beverage processing relies on activated carbon for purification, decolorization, deodorization, and contaminant removal. Food-grade activated carbon must meet purity requirements for direct and indirect food contact, with specifications for extractable substances, heavy metals, and cyanide content. Applications span sugar refining, beverage production, edible oil processing, and ingredient purification.
Raw sugar contains color bodies, ash, and impurities that must be removed to produce refined white sugar. Activated carbon is used in both granular and powdered forms to decolorize sugar liquors and syrups.
Recommended Products: Wood-Based Powdered Activated Carbon (PAC), Coal-Based Granular Activated Carbon (GAC)
Water used in soft drinks, bottled water, beer, wine, and spirits requires treatment to remove chlorine, chloramines, taste and odor compounds, and organic contaminants. Activated carbon filtration ensures consistent beverage quality.
Recommended Products: Coconut Shell GAC (acid-washed), Acid-Washed Pelletized Carbon
Vegetable oils and animal fats undergo refining to remove color pigments (chlorophyll, carotenoids), free fatty acids, peroxides, and trace contaminants. Activated carbon is used alongside bleaching earths for enhanced purification.
Recommended Products: Wood-Based PAC, Acid-Activated Carbon
Distilled spirits (vodka, whiskey, rum) are treated with activated carbon to remove congeners, fusel oils, and off-flavors, producing a smoother final product. Wine and beer production also employs carbon for color adjustment and off-flavor removal.
Recommended Products: Coconut Shell GAC, Wood-Based PAC
Activated carbon purifies amino acids, organic acids (citric, lactic, tartaric), sweeteners (stevia, monk fruit), flavors, and colors used in food manufacturing.
Recommended Products: Wood-Based PAC, Acid-Washed Carbon
The fermentation-derived glutamate undergoes activated carbon treatment for decolorization and purification before crystallization.
Recommended Products: Wood-Based PAC, Powdered Activated Carbon
Activated carbon removes color, odor, and impurities from gelatin and pectin hydrolysates during processing.
Recommended Products: Wood-Based PAC, Powdered Activated Carbon
Fruit juices, vegetable juices, and botanical extracts are treated with activated carbon to remove color, bitterness, and haze-forming compounds.
Recommended Products: Wood-Based PAC, Powdered Activated Carbon
Parameter |
Unit |
Wood-Based PAC |
Coconut Shell GAC (Acid-Washed) |
Coal-Based GAC |
Test Method |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Iodine Number
|
mg/g
|
800 – 1,000
|
950 – 1,150
|
700 – 950
|
ASTM D4607
|
Methylene Blue Adsorption
|
mg/g
|
120 – 160
|
150 – 210
|
80 – 150
|
ASTM D2330
|
Molasses Number
|
—
|
100 – 130
|
150 – 250
|
80 – 120
|
Internal
|
Moisture Content
|
%
|
< 5
|
< 5
|
< 5
|
ASTM D2867
|
Ash Content
|
%
|
< 3
|
< 3
|
< 8
|
ASTM D2866
|
Heavy Metals (as Pb)
|
ppm
|
< 5
|
< 5
|
< 10
|
Food Chemicals Codex
|
Particle Size
|
mesh / µm
|
325 mesh (44 µm)
|
12×40, 8×30
|
12×40, 8×30
|
ASTM D2862
|
Acid-Soluble Iron
|
ppm
|
< 100
|
< 50
|
< 200
|
Food Chemicals Codex
|
Surface Area (BET)
|
m²/g
|
700 – 950
|
950 – 1,150
|
600 – 900
|
ASTM D6556
|
pH Value
|
—
|
5 – 7
|
6 – 8
|
7 – 9
|
ASTM D3838
|
Cyanide
|
ppm
|
< 1
|
< 1
|
< 1
|
Food Chemicals Codex
|
Water-Soluble Substances
|
%
|
< 0.5
|
< 0.2
|
< 0.3
|
FCC
|
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