Frequently asked questions
Activated carbon, answered plainly
The questions buyers actually ask, including the ones with answers we would rather were different.
What is the difference between coconut shell and coal-based activated carbon?
Coconut shell carbon has a predominantly microporous structure, which gives it higher capacity for small molecules and low-concentration contaminants — typical of gas-phase duty. It is also harder, has lower ash, and is made from an annually renewable feedstock. Coal-based carbon has a broader pore distribution that suits larger molecules and some liquid-phase applications. Suracsh manufactures coconut shell carbon.
What does CTC activity mean on an activated carbon datasheet?
Carbon tetrachloride activity is the mass of CCl₄ a carbon adsorbs at saturation, expressed as a percentage of the carbon weight. It is the standard proxy for micropore volume and therefore for gas-phase capacity. A 60 CTC carbon adsorbs 60% of its own weight. Higher CTC generally means higher capacity and higher cost.
What is iodine number and how does it relate to CTC?
Iodine number is the milligrams of iodine adsorbed per gram of carbon, and like CTC it indicates micropore surface area. The two correlate but are not interchangeable — iodine number is more commonly specified in water treatment, CTC in gas phase. Always match the parameter your specification actually calls for rather than converting between them.
Which activated carbon removes hydrogen sulfide from biogas?
For moderate H₂S loading, a re-agglomerated carbon such as SURSORB CAG works by physical adsorption and is cost effective. For high loading or where bed life matters more than media cost, an impregnated grade — SURSORB PAG-10 at 10% minimum impregnation, or the magnesium-oxide impregnated SURSORB MAG — carries substantially more sulfur per unit volume. Impregnated grades are consumed rather than regenerated.
What certifications does Suracsh hold?
Suracsh Filters Pvt Ltd holds ISO 9001 for its quality management system and runs an ISO/IEC 17025 certified gas testing laboratory. Respirator grades are tested against EN 14387 and NBC grades against MIL protocol, with the breakthrough data published on the product pages rather than issued on request. Our media is supplied for gas-phase and industrial duty.
What is ASZM-TEDA carbon?
ASZM-TEDA is an impregnation using copper, silver, zinc and molybdenum together with triethylenediamine, developed for military NBC and CBRN filtration. Unlike physical adsorption it chemically destroys agents such as cyanogen chloride, hydrogen cyanide and phosgene, converting them into non-volatile, non-poisonous inorganic salts. Suracsh manufactures a chromium-free version, SURSORB CBRN+.
What packaging and minimum order quantities are available?
Standard packaging is 25 kg polypropylene bags (55 lb) and 500 kg jumbo bags (1,100 lb), with bulk container and unbranded or private-label packaging available on request. Suracsh ships from India against your Incoterm, most commonly CIF or DDP to a named US port or facility.
Can Suracsh make a custom impregnated carbon?
Yes. Custom formulation is routine — Suracsh operates a pilot-scale impregnation facility, a rotary tube furnace, a pilot extruder and an in-house gas testing rig, so a new formulation can be mixed, applied, extruded and breakthrough-tested without external tooling. The process runs from specification through pilot run and sample approval to production.
Are Suracsh datasheets available without registering?
Yes. Every technical datasheet on this site downloads directly with no form, no email address and no registration.
What is the difference between granular, pelletized and spherical activated carbon?
Granular carbon is crushed and screened to a mesh cut, and is the most common and lowest cost form. Pelletized carbon is extruded to a uniform cylinder, giving lower pressure drop and better mechanical stability in deep beds and high flow. Spherical carbon is formed from polymeric precursors, giving very high hardness, minimal ash and low dust — which is why it is used in protective clothing where weight and abrasion matter.
Is activated carbon regenerable?
It depends on the mechanism. Carbon loaded by physical adsorption of organics can often be thermally reactivated. Impregnated carbon that has chemically converted a contaminant — mercury to mercuric sulfide, H₂S to a sulfur salt — generally cannot be, and is changed out instead. Suracsh does not operate reactivation facilities in North America; reactivation is inherently local to where the spent carbon sits.