Preparation of paper mill sludge-based

granular activated carbon

Presented By:Ashok Dhakad

Sch. No. 142117203
Department of Chemical Engineering
MANIT, Bhopal

INTRODUCTION
Paper mill sludge is a byproduct
composed of pulp residues and ash
which are generated from pulping and
paper making processes.
Paper mill sludge was utilized to prepare
granular activated carbon filler for
fluidized-bed bioreactor .

History of Activated Carbon

First described used over 3500 years ago for
medicinal purposes
In the 18th century, crude carbons made from blood,
wood and animals were used for the purification of
liquids.
Granular Activated Carbon with industrial level steam
activation was developed as a consequence of WWI,
for use in gas masks

What is Activated Carbon?

Activated Carbon is a crude form of graphite and generic

term used to describe a family of carbonaceous adsorbents
possessing a highly crystalline form and extensively
developed internal pore structure.
This unique structure of Activated Carbon produces a very
large surface area.
1 lb. of Granular Activated Carbon produces a surface area
of 125 acres (1 kg = 1,000,000 meters2; 1000 m2/g)

Raw Material

Dewatered paper
mill sludge
Polyvinyl alcohol

steam

Paper sludge contains

Water
Organic compound

Small cellulose particles

Inorganic salts etc.

Process

Activation

The raw materials are first carbonized via a controlled

heating process at low temperatures (200 - 300C)
in an oxygen-lean environment which keeps the
material from burning. This process converts the raw
material into a disordered carbon structure full of tiny
pores.

Activation
The carbonized materials are then activated by steam
(or chemical treatment). Steam activation is carried
out at high temperatures (982C) and the carbonized
materials react with the steam to form carbon
monoxide and hydrogen which exit as gases leaving
behind a highly porous activated carbon material

Pore Structure

Applications of activated carbon

Activated carbon is used in gas

purification, gold purification,
metal extraction, water
purification, medicine, sewage
treatment, air filters in gas
masks and many other
applications.

Element

Paper sludge (%)

Carbon

39.52

hydrogen

4.53

0xygen

19.22

Nitrogen

0.5

Sulphur

0.11

Chlorine

0.2

Advantages
Easy to prepare and handle
Do not require tedious methods and sophisticated
techniques for characterization.
Can be stored under normal conditions.
Easily recyclable of the carbon with high
reproducibility of the results.

Other raw material also can produce

AC

Bituminous Coal
Coconut Shells
Wood
Lignite Coal
Peat, Olive Pits, etc.

Conclusions
The results of this study show that it is feasible to
prepare activated carbons with relatively high surface
areas and pore volumes from paper sludge by direct
chemical activation or steam activation and it reduce
the environment pollution .

References
www.science.gov
www.ncbi.nih.gov
H. Marsh and F. rodriguez-reinosis, activated carbon,
oxford , 2006

Thank you!