Quick-Pick by System
| Application | Primary Filter Media | Specs | Bed Configuration | Service Life |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Municipal Drinking Water Pre-filtration | Anthracite + Quartz Sand + Garnet | Anthracite 1.0–1.5 mm; sand 0.5–0.8 mm; garnet 0.3 mm | Multi-media 60+30+15 cm | 5–10 years |
| Municipal Drinking Water Polishing | Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) | Coal-based, iodine number ≥900 mg/g, mesh 8×30 | GAC bed 60–90 cm @ EBCT 10 min | 2–3 years before regeneration |
| Swimming Pool Filtration | Quartz Sand + Anthracite | Sand 0.45–0.85 mm; anthracite 0.8–1.6 mm | Dual media 40+30 cm | 5–7 years |
| Industrial Cooling Water Circulation | Quartz Sand + Anthracite | Sand 0.5–1.2 mm; anthracite 1.0–2.0 mm | Dual media 50+30 cm | 3–5 years |
| Mining Gold Leach (CIP/CIL) | Activated Carbon (Gold Grade) | Coconut-shell or coal, 6×12 mesh, hardness ≥98% | Adsorption-elution column | 1–2 years (multiple regeneration cycles) |
| Sugar Mill Decolorizing | Activated Carbon (Powder PAC, Sugar Grade) | PAC, iodine ≥1000 mg/g, decolorizing ≥18 mL/g | Batch contact + filter press | Single-use, then incineration |
| Brewery / Wine Clarification | Diatomite Filter Aid | Mining grade, calcined or flux-calcined | Precoat 0.5–1.5 kg/m² + body feed | Single-use (food-grade) |
| Ozone / Hydrogen Peroxide Polishing | Granular Activated Carbon (Catalytic) | Coal-based catalytic, iodine ≥850 mg/g | GAC bed 60 cm @ EBCT 8 min | 3–5 years |
| VOC Air Treatment | Granular Activated Carbon (Coal) | Coal-based, CTC ≥60%, mesh 4×8 | Adsorption-desorption column | 2–4 years |
| CO₂ Capture (Post-combustion) | Activated Carbon CO₂ Adsorbent | Specialty MEA-impregnated or molecular sieve hybrid | Fixed bed with regeneration cycle | 5+ years |
| Soil Remediation (PFAS / Petroleum) | Activated Carbon (Soil Sorbent) | Coal-based or biochar, particle 0.5–2.5 mm | Trench injection or surface mixing | Permanent in-situ |
| Defluoridation (Drinking Water) | Activated Alumina (see separate hub) | Bead 3–6 mm, BET ≥280 m²/g | Fixed bed @ EBCT 15 min | 1–3 years before regeneration |
All Grades (by chemistry class)
Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) for Water Treatment(2)
The polishing-stage adsorbent for municipal drinking water, ground water remediation, and industrial process water. Coal-based GAC (iodine number 900–1100 mg/g, mesh 8×30) dominates the water-treatment market on cost-performance vs coconut-shell variants. Bed depth 60–90 cm at empty-bed contact time (EBCT) 10 minutes is the standard design; regenerable through 3–5 cycles before discard.
water treatment chemicals
Activated Carbon for Water Treatment
CAS: 7440-44-0
Activated carbon is a highly porous adsorbent material widely used in drinking water and industrial water treatment to remove chlorine, chloramines, taste and odor compounds, organic micropollutants, pesticides, and color. It is available in granular (GAC) and powdered (PAC) forms for fixed-bed and slurry dosing applications. Activated carbon is also used as a dechlorination agent in RO pretreatment and as an adsorbent in wastewater polishing.
View Details →water treatment specialty chemicals
Granular Activated Carbon for Water Treatment (GAC)
CAS: 7440-44-0
Granular activated carbon (GAC) derived from coal, coconut shell, or wood is a high-surface-area adsorbent used in water treatment for taste, odor, and organic micropollutant removal. It adsorbs chlorination by-products (THMs, HAAs), pesticides, pharmaceuticals, and industrial organics from drinking water and industrial process water. Used in fixed-bed adsorbers and as biological activated carbon (BAC).
View Details →Specialty Activated Carbon(4)
Application-tuned activated carbon grades engineered beyond commodity water-treatment GAC. Mining-grade (high hardness for CIP/CIL gold adsorption), sugar-grade (high decolorizing power for sugar-mill juice), soil-sorbent grade (PFAS / petroleum remediation), and CO₂ adsorbent (MEA-impregnated or molecular-sieve hybrid for post-combustion carbon capture).
mining flotation chemicals
Activated Carbon (Gold CIP/CIL Grade)
CAS: 64365-11-3
Gold-grade Activated Carbon is used in Carbon-in-Pulp (CIP) and Carbon-in-Leach (CIL) gold recovery circuits to adsorb gold-cyanide complexes from cyanide leach solutions. High-surface-area granular activated carbon provides efficient gold adsorption kinetics and high loading capacity, allowing gold to be concentrated for subsequent elution and electrowinning recovery. The carbon is regenerated by thermal reactivation for multiple reuse cycles, making it a key consumable in gold processing operations.
View Details →sugar starch processing
Activated Carbon Sugar Decolorizing
CAS: 64365-11-3
Activated Carbon Sugar Decolorizing for sugar refining and starch processing industries, enabling efficient conversion, purification, and modification of sugar and starch products.
View Details →soil remediation chemicals
Activated Carbon Soil Sorbent
CAS: 64365-11-3
Activated Carbon Soil Sorbent for contaminated soil and groundwater remediation, enabling removal, immobilization, or degradation of organic and inorganic pollutants.
View Details →carbon capture chemicals
Activated Carbon CO2 Adsorbent
CAS: 64365-11-3
Activated Carbon CO2 Adsorbent for carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) processes, enabling efficient CO2 separation and sequestration to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
View Details →Anthracite Filter Media(1)
Coal-derived filter media for the top layer of multi-media gravity and pressure filters in municipal water treatment, swimming pool filtration, and industrial cooling-water systems. Particle size 0.8–2.5 mm with bulk density 0.7–0.9 g/cm³ — the lower density vs sand keeps it on top during back-wash bed-fluidization stratification.
Diatomite Filter Aid(1)
Diatomaceous earth (calcined or flux-calcined) used as filter aid in food/beverage clarification (beer, wine, fruit juice), pharmaceutical and chemical filtration, and mineral processing. Pre-coat layer of 0.5–1.5 kg/m² builds a filtration cake; body-feed addition during continuous operation maintains permeability. Food-grade diatomite must meet sub-1% crystalline silica content per FDA / EU.
Inorganic Filter & Support Media — Quartz Sand / Manganese Sand / Zeolite / Ceramic Ball(4)
The mineral filter-media stack underneath GAC and anthracite. Quartz sand (SiO₂ ≥99%) is the standard primary layer in multi-media filters. Manganese sand (MnO₂ ≥35%) catalyzes iron and manganese removal from groundwater. Clinoptilolite zeolite (CEC 130-180 meq/100g) polishes ammonia-nitrogen in sewage tertiary treatment and aquaculture water. Graded ceramic balls (3-50 mm, Al₂O₃ 17-92%) sit at the bottom as support media and backwash distribution layer. Pingdingshan (Henan) and Lingshou (Hebei) deposits supply the bulk of Chinese export grade.
water treatment specialty chemicals
Quartz Sand Filter Media
CAS: 14808-60-7
Quartz sand filter media (SiO₂ ≥99%) is the standard primary filtration layer in dual-media and multi-media gravity/pressure filters. Round-grained silica particles classified to specific mesh ranges (16-30, 8-16, 4-8) trap suspended solids by mechanical straining plus interstitial adhesion. Pingdingshan and Lingshou (Hebei) deposits supply the bulk of Chinese export grade — chemically inert, abrasion-resistant, NSF/ANSI 61 compliant for drinking water.
View Details →water treatment specialty chemicals
Manganese Sand Filter Media (Iron & Manganese Removal)
CAS: 1313-13-9
Manganese sand (natural pyrolusite-coated quartz, MnO₂ ≥35%) is the catalytic filter media for iron and manganese removal from groundwater, well water, and surface water. The MnO₂ coating catalyzes oxidation of dissolved Fe²⁺ and Mn²⁺ to insoluble Fe(OH)₃ and MnO₂ which are then captured in the bed. Mined from Pingdingshan (Henan) and Guangxi deposits, grades vary by MnO₂ content (≥35%, ≥45%) and mesh size.
View Details →water treatment specialty chemicals
Clinoptilolite Zeolite Filter Media (Ammonia Removal & Softening)
Natural clinoptilolite zeolite is a hydrated aluminosilicate (Si/Al ~5) with high cation-exchange capacity (CEC 130-180 meq/100 g) selective for NH₄⁺, Cs⁺, Pb²⁺, and Ca²⁺. Used as a polishing filter media for ammonia-nitrogen removal in municipal sewage tertiary treatment, aquaculture water, and as a softening medium replacing or supplementing ion-exchange resins. Major Chinese deposits in Henan, Jilin, Zhejiang.
View Details →water treatment specialty chemicals
Ceramic Filter Ball (Support & Distribution Media)
Ceramic balls are high-alumina (Al₂O₃ 17-23% standard; 75%+ high-alumina) sintered ceramic spheres used as support and distribution media beneath filtration beds. Placed in graded layers (large balls bottom, small top) above the underdrain, they prevent fine media migration into laterals, distribute backwash water evenly, and provide structural support for the bed above. Available in 3 mm to 50 mm diameters. Standard for GAC, anthracite, sand, and multi-media filter constructions.
View Details →Imported Brand → China Equivalent
Equivalents are indicative; verify against TDS for project-critical applications.
| International Brand Grade | China Equivalent | Major Chinese Producers |
|---|---|---|
| Calgon Carbon F400 (coal GAC, iodine 1050) | Coal GAC iodine ≥1000 mg/g | 巩义市净水材料厂家集群, 山西新华化工, 宁夏华辉 |
| Calgon Carbon F300 (coal GAC, iodine 950) | Coal GAC iodine ≥900 mg/g | 宁夏华辉, 山西大同, 山西新华化工 |
| Cabot Norit ROW 0.8 Supra (coal GAC) | Coal GAC mesh 8×30, iodine 950 | 巩义市集群, 山西阳泉 |
| Calgon Carbon AquaCarb (catalytic) | Catalytic coal GAC iodine ≥850 mg/g | 宁夏华辉, 山西大同, 福建源升 |
| Coconut-shell GAC (Jacobi, Haycarb) | Coconut-shell GAC iodine ≥1100 mg/g, hardness ≥98% | 福建源升, 海南椰壳, 山东元拓 |
| Anthracite Filter Coal (Pure Aqua, Northern Filter) | Anthracite filter media 0.8–1.6 mm, hardness ≥7 | 宁夏华辉, 河南巩义市集群, 河北邯郸 |
| Celite 545 (Imerys, calcined diatomite) | Calcined diatomite filter aid 545-equivalent | 嵊州市旭日, 浙江嘉善硅藻土 |
| Celite 503 (Imerys, flux-calcined diatomite) | Flux-calcined diatomite filter aid | 嵊州市旭日, 浙江嘉善硅藻土 |
| Calgon SR-Plus (gold mining CIP) | Coconut-shell gold-grade carbon, hardness ≥99% | 福建源升, 山东元拓 |
| Norit GAC 1240 (sugar decolorizing PAC) | Sugar-grade PAC iodine ≥1000, decolor ≥18 mL/g | 宁夏华辉, 山西新华化工 |
| 3M Filtersorb (PFAS remediation) | Activated carbon (PFAS-grade, soil/groundwater) | 宁夏华辉, 山西大同 (specialty grade) |
Frequently Asked Questions
▶GAC (Granular) vs PAC (Powdered) activated carbon — which should I use?
Use GAC for continuous fixed-bed contact (drinking-water filtration, industrial column adsorption) where bed depth and back-wash matters. Use PAC for batch contact + filtration (sugar decolorizing, drinking water emergency taste/odor control, spot-treatment) where the contact time is short and disposal is single-use.
GAC (Granular) vs PAC (Powdered) activated carbon — which should I use?
Use GAC for continuous fixed-bed contact (drinking-water filtration, industrial column adsorption) where bed depth and back-wash matters. Use PAC for batch contact + filtration (sugar decolorizing, drinking water emergency taste/odor control, spot-treatment) where the contact time is short and disposal is single-use.
▶What does the iodine number mean and what number do I need?
Iodine number measures the activated carbon's capacity to adsorb iodine from solution, in mg I₂ per gram of carbon. It correlates with micropore volume (10–20 Å pores) and is the standard screening parameter for activated carbon performance. Most drinking-water specs require ≥900 mg/g; high-end gold-mining and pharmaceutical specs require ≥1100 mg/g.
What does the iodine number mean and what number do I need?
Iodine number measures the activated carbon's capacity to adsorb iodine from solution, in mg I₂ per gram of carbon. It correlates with micropore volume (10–20 Å pores) and is the standard screening parameter for activated carbon performance. Most drinking-water specs require ≥900 mg/g; high-end gold-mining and pharmaceutical specs require ≥1100 mg/g.
▶Coal-based vs coconut-shell activated carbon — when does each matter?
Coal-based for water treatment, industrial gas adsorption, and general organic removal (cost-effective baseline). Coconut-shell for gold mining (hardness matters), pharmaceutical / electronic-grade (low ash, low metals), and food/beverage (taste-neutral). Wood-based for sugar decolorizing and dye removal (large meso-pores).
Coal-based vs coconut-shell activated carbon — when does each matter?
Coal-based for water treatment, industrial gas adsorption, and general organic removal (cost-effective baseline). Coconut-shell for gold mining (hardness matters), pharmaceutical / electronic-grade (low ash, low metals), and food/beverage (taste-neutral). Wood-based for sugar decolorizing and dye removal (large meso-pores).
▶How do I design a multi-media filter bed?
Standard 3-media drinking water filter: 60 cm anthracite (1.0–1.5 mm) top + 30 cm quartz sand (0.5–0.8 mm) middle + 15 cm garnet (0.3 mm) bottom. Filtration rate 5–10 m/h, back-wash every 24–72 hours. Effective filtration size 0.45–1.5 mm; uniformity coefficient < 1.6.
How do I design a multi-media filter bed?
Standard 3-media drinking water filter: 60 cm anthracite (1.0–1.5 mm) top + 30 cm quartz sand (0.5–0.8 mm) middle + 15 cm garnet (0.3 mm) bottom. Filtration rate 5–10 m/h, back-wash every 24–72 hours. Effective filtration size 0.45–1.5 mm; uniformity coefficient < 1.6.
▶Why anthracite filter media instead of just sand?
Anthracite's lower density (0.7 g/cm³ vs 2.65 g/cm³ for sand) keeps it on top during back-wash bed-fluidization stratification, creating depth filtration. Its larger particle size (1.0–2.5 mm vs 0.5–0.8 mm for sand) catches large flocs without rapid head-loss buildup, extending filter-run length.
Why anthracite filter media instead of just sand?
Anthracite's lower density (0.7 g/cm³ vs 2.65 g/cm³ for sand) keeps it on top during back-wash bed-fluidization stratification, creating depth filtration. Its larger particle size (1.0–2.5 mm vs 0.5–0.8 mm for sand) catches large flocs without rapid head-loss buildup, extending filter-run length.
▶When should I use diatomite filter aid?
Use diatomite filter aid (DE / Celite-equivalent) when filtering low-solids high-clarity liquids — beer/wine/fruit-juice clarification, pharmaceutical and chemical filtration, swimming pool finish-polish. Pre-coat at 0.5–1.5 kg/m² on a leaf or plate filter, then body-feed during continuous operation to maintain permeability.
When should I use diatomite filter aid?
Use diatomite filter aid (DE / Celite-equivalent) when filtering low-solids high-clarity liquids — beer/wine/fruit-juice clarification, pharmaceutical and chemical filtration, swimming pool finish-polish. Pre-coat at 0.5–1.5 kg/m² on a leaf or plate filter, then body-feed during continuous operation to maintain permeability.
▶How does gold-mining grade activated carbon differ from water-treatment grade?
Gold-mining grade is coconut-shell-based with hardness ≥98% and mesh 6×12 (larger particles), engineered to survive multiple cycles through pump-impellers and elution columns in CIP (carbon-in-pulp) or CIL (carbon-in-leach) circuits without attrition. Water-treatment GAC at 92–95% hardness disintegrates after 5–10 cycles.
How does gold-mining grade activated carbon differ from water-treatment grade?
Gold-mining grade is coconut-shell-based with hardness ≥98% and mesh 6×12 (larger particles), engineered to survive multiple cycles through pump-impellers and elution columns in CIP (carbon-in-pulp) or CIL (carbon-in-leach) circuits without attrition. Water-treatment GAC at 92–95% hardness disintegrates after 5–10 cycles.
▶Is filter media regenerable? When does it pay vs replacement?
GAC is regenerable through 3–5 thermal reactivation cycles (800°C in steam, 5–15% mass loss per cycle); anthracite and quartz sand are not regenerable but last 5–10 years before replacement. Spent activated alumina is regenerable through 100+ cycles. Spent diatomite is single-use.
Is filter media regenerable? When does it pay vs replacement?
GAC is regenerable through 3–5 thermal reactivation cycles (800°C in steam, 5–15% mass loss per cycle); anthracite and quartz sand are not regenerable but last 5–10 years before replacement. Spent activated alumina is regenerable through 100+ cycles. Spent diatomite is single-use.
▶What is NSF/ANSI 61 certification and why does it matter?
NSF/ANSI 61 is the North American standard for drinking-water system components — verifying that the material does not leach toxic substances (lead, arsenic, BTEX, etc.) into the treated water at levels above EPA / WHO drinking-water limits. Required by most US/Canadian municipalities, recommended for EU and APAC drinking-water specs.
What is NSF/ANSI 61 certification and why does it matter?
NSF/ANSI 61 is the North American standard for drinking-water system components — verifying that the material does not leach toxic substances (lead, arsenic, BTEX, etc.) into the treated water at levels above EPA / WHO drinking-water limits. Required by most US/Canadian municipalities, recommended for EU and APAC drinking-water specs.
▶How do Chinese activated carbon prices compare to Calgon, Cabot, Jacobi?
Chinese-origin GAC and anthracite are typically 40–60% lower CIF than equivalent international brand grades, with the gap widest on commodity water-treatment GAC and narrowing for NSF-certified drinking-water grades and high-spec mining-grade coconut-shell carbon.
How do Chinese activated carbon prices compare to Calgon, Cabot, Jacobi?
Chinese-origin GAC and anthracite are typically 40–60% lower CIF than equivalent international brand grades, with the gap widest on commodity water-treatment GAC and narrowing for NSF-certified drinking-water grades and high-spec mining-grade coconut-shell carbon.
▶What documents are available — COA, MSDS, TDS, NSF certificate?
Yes — Certificate of Analysis (COA), Safety Data Sheet (SDS/MSDS), Technical Data Sheet (TDS) standard on every order. NSF/ANSI 61 certificates available for drinking-water grades; food-contact compliance letters (FDA 21 CFR 173.20 for sugar grade, FDA 21 CFR 184.1366 for diatomite) on request.
What documents are available — COA, MSDS, TDS, NSF certificate?
Yes — Certificate of Analysis (COA), Safety Data Sheet (SDS/MSDS), Technical Data Sheet (TDS) standard on every order. NSF/ANSI 61 certificates available for drinking-water grades; food-contact compliance letters (FDA 21 CFR 173.20 for sugar grade, FDA 21 CFR 184.1366 for diatomite) on request.
▶What is the MOQ and packaging?
Starter samples 5–10 kg; standard commercial MOQ is 500 kg for activated carbon and anthracite, 200 kg for diatomite. Packaging: 25 kg woven bag with PE liner (most common), 500–600 kg jumbo bag, or 25 t bulk container loads.
What is the MOQ and packaging?
Starter samples 5–10 kg; standard commercial MOQ is 500 kg for activated carbon and anthracite, 200 kg for diatomite. Packaging: 25 kg woven bag with PE liner (most common), 500–600 kg jumbo bag, or 25 t bulk container loads.