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Activated Carbon Production

Activated Carbon Rotary Kiln

A rotary kiln for producing activated carbon through steam activation of carbonized raw materials. Fuel: gas, coal, or oil; capacity 180-10,000 t/d. Precise temperature control and steam injection system develop the porous structure that gives activated carbon its superior adsorption properties.

Gas/Coal/OilFuel Type
180-10,000 t/dCapacity
SteamActivation
900-1,200Iodine No. (mg/g)

Product Overview

About the Activated Carbon Rotary Kiln

The activated carbon rotary kiln is a specialized thermal reactor used to produce activated carbon — a highly porous carbon material with enormous internal surface area (800-1,500 m2/g) that gives it exceptional adsorption capacity. The kiln activates carbonized raw materials (coconut shell char, coal char, wood char, or fruit shell char) by reacting them with steam at 800-1,000°C, developing the micro-pore structure that makes activated carbon so effective.

Activated carbon is an essential industrial material used in water treatment, air and gas purification, gold recovery, food and beverage decolorization, pharmaceutical processing, solvent recovery, and chemical catalysis. As environmental regulations tighten worldwide — particularly for water and air quality — demand for activated carbon continues to grow across industries.

LIMING activated carbon rotary kilns are engineered for precise temperature control (the activation window of 800-1,000°C is critical), uniform steam distribution, and controlled residence time. The rotary design ensures even heat exposure and consistent product quality. Kilns can be configured for gas, coal, or oil firing and produce 180-10,000 tons of activated carbon per day, serving applications from small specialty carbon plants to large-scale industrial production.

Applications

Applications of Activated Carbon

Activated carbon produced in LIMING rotary kilns serves diverse industries worldwide.

Water & Wastewater Treatment

Air & Gas Purification

Industrial & Specialty

Key Benefits

Advantages of LIMING Activated Carbon Rotary Kiln

Engineered for precise activation, consistent product quality, and efficient large-scale production.

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Precise Temperature Control

The activation window of 800-1,000°C is critical — too low and activation is incomplete; too high and pore structure collapses. LIMING kilns use multi-zone temperature monitoring and control to maintain the optimal activation temperature throughout the kiln length.

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Uniform Steam Distribution

Steam is the activation agent — it gasifies carbon from pore walls to create and enlarge pores. LIMING's steam injection system distributes steam evenly across the kiln cross-section, ensuring uniform activation throughout the material bed. Steam flow rate is precisely controlled.

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Consistent Product Quality

The rotary kiln's tumbling action ensures even heat exposure for all carbon particles. Combined with controlled residence time, this produces activated carbon with consistent iodine number (900-1,200 mg/g), surface area, and pore size distribution — batch after batch.

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Large-Scale Capacity

With capacities from 180 to 10,000 t/d, LIMING kilns serve everything from small specialty carbon plants to large industrial facilities. The rotary design scales efficiently to very large diameters and lengths, making it the preferred choice for high-volume activated carbon production.

Technical Data

Activated Carbon Rotary Kiln Specifications

Representative models. Custom designs available for specific raw materials and capacity requirements.

Model Capacity (t/d) Shell Diameter (m) Shell Length (m) Fuel Type Activation Temp (°C) Steam Consumption (t/h)
ACK-1801801.822Gas / Coal / Oil850-9500.8-1.2
ACK-3003002.226Gas / Coal / Oil850-9501.2-1.8
ACK-5005002.630Gas / Coal / Oil850-9502.0-3.0
ACK-10001,0003.036Gas / Coal / Oil850-9504.0-6.0
ACK-20002,0003.542Gas / Coal / Oil850-9508.0-12.0
ACK-30003,0004.048Gas / Coal / Oil850-95012.0-18.0
ACK-50005,0004.555Gas / Coal / Oil850-95020.0-30.0
ACK-1000010,0005.565Gas / Coal / Oil850-95040.0-60.0

* Specifications are for reference only. Actual capacity and product quality depend on raw material, fuel type, and operating parameters. Contact LIMING for custom engineering.

How It Works

Working Principle of Activated Carbon Rotary Kiln

Activated carbon production involves two main steps: carbonization (converting raw material to char) and activation (developing the pore structure). The activated carbon rotary kiln performs the activation step using steam as the activating agent.

  1. Feed charging: Carbonized raw material (char from coconut shell, coal, wood, or fruit shell) is fed into the upper end of the inclined, rotating kiln. The kiln is slightly inclined (2-4°) and rotates slowly (0.5-3 rpm), causing the material to tumble and advance through the kiln.
  2. Preheating zone: As the char enters the kiln, it is preheated by contact with hot combustion gases flowing countercurrent. The temperature rises from ambient to 500-700°C. Residual moisture and volatiles remaining from carbonization are driven off.
  3. Activation zone (core): In the middle section of the kiln, the temperature reaches 800-1,000°C. Steam is injected into the kiln and reacts with the carbon: C + H2O → CO + H2. This gasification reaction selectively removes carbon atoms from the pore walls, enlarging existing pores and creating new ones — developing the vast internal surface area that characterizes activated carbon.
  4. Fuel combustion: Fuel (gas, coal, or oil) is burned in a combustion chamber at the kiln discharge end. Hot combustion gases flow countercurrent to the material, providing the heat needed to maintain activation temperature. The countercurrent flow maximizes thermal efficiency.
  5. Cooling zone: At the discharge end, activated carbon exits the kiln at 800-900°C into a cooler (typically a rotary or water-jacket cooler), where it is cooled to below 100°C under inert atmosphere to prevent re-oxidation. Cooled carbon is then screened and milled to final product specifications.
  6. Off-gas treatment: The activation reaction produces CO and H2 (water gas) along with combustion products. These gases exit the kiln feed end and are burned in a thermal oxidizer or recovered as fuel gas. Dust is removed in a bag filter before exhaust release — meeting environmental emission standards.

Frequently Asked Questions

Activated Carbon Rotary Kiln FAQ

What is an activated carbon rotary kiln used for?
An activated carbon rotary kiln produces activated carbon by activating carbonized raw materials (coconut shell, coal, wood, or fruit shells) with steam at 800-1,000°C. The steam activation process develops a vast internal pore structure that gives activated carbon its high adsorption capacity. The product is used in water treatment, air purification, gold recovery, food and beverage decolorization, pharmaceutical processing, and chemical catalysis.
What raw materials can be used to produce activated carbon?
Common raw materials include coconut shells (high-quality, microporous carbon for water and air treatment), coal/bituminous coal (economical, versatile), wood (for decolorization and food applications), and fruit shells like apricot pits. Each raw material produces carbon with different pore size distributions — coconut shell carbon is microporous (ideal for water filtration), while coal-based carbon has a mix of micro and mesopores suitable for broader applications.
What is the difference between carbonization and activation?
Carbonization is the first step — raw material is heated to 400-600°C in the absence of oxygen, driving off volatiles and leaving a char with some initial porosity. Activation is the second step — the char is heated to 800-1,000°C and reacted with steam (or CO2), which gasifies carbon from the pore walls, enlarging and creating new pores. The activated carbon rotary kiln performs the activation step. Some integrated plants include both carbonization and activation in a single continuous kiln.
How is the quality of activated carbon measured?
Key quality indicators include iodine number (measures micropore volume, typically 800-1,200 mg/g for high-quality carbon), methylene blue adsorption (measures mesopore volume), surface area (BET, typically 800-1,500 m2/g), ash content (lower is better, under 5% for coconut shell carbon), and abrasion resistance (important for regeneration and handling). LIMING kilns are engineered to produce activated carbon with iodine numbers of 900-1,200 mg/g depending on raw material and operating parameters.

Need an Activated Carbon Rotary Kiln?

Tell us your raw material, required capacity, and target product specifications. Our engineers will design the optimal kiln configuration — quotation within 24 hours.

WhatsApp: +86 153 3380 7511 [email protected]
WhatsApp: +86 153 3380 7511 [email protected]