{"id":11638,"date":"2026-07-21T17:15:20","date_gmt":"2026-07-21T09:15:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/activatedcarbon.net\/?p=11638"},"modified":"2026-07-21T17:15:22","modified_gmt":"2026-07-21T09:15:22","slug":"activated-carbon-for-chlorine-removal-from-pyrolysis-oil","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/activatedcarbon.net\/fr\/activated-carbon-for-chlorine-removal-from-pyrolysis-oil\/","title":{"rendered":"Activated Carbon for Chlorine Removal from Pyrolysis Oil"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Introduction<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pyrolysis oil \u2014 also known as bio-oil \u2014 is a dark, viscous liquid produced by the thermal decomposition of biomass, waste plastics, or scrap tires in the absence of oxygen. As the world shifts toward renewable energy and circular economy solutions, pyrolysis oil has emerged as a promising alternative fuel and chemical feedstock. However, raw pyrolysis oil contains significant levels of chlorine compounds \u2014 typically 100\u20133,000 ppm \u2014 that cause serious downstream problems: corrosion of refining equipment, catalyst poisoning, formation of dioxins during combustion, and non-compliance with fuel quality standards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At Zhulin Carbon, we help pyrolysis plant operators and bio-oil refiners reduce total chlorine content to specification using our coal-based crushed granular activated carbon (GAC). In this guide, we explain the sources of chlorine in pyrolysis oil, how activated carbon removes it, and the technical parameters that make our raw-coal crushed carbon the right choice for this demanding application.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Where Does Chlorine in Pyrolysis Oil Come From?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Chlorine enters pyrolysis oil through multiple pathways, depending on the feedstock:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Agricultural residues and energy crops contain naturally occurring chlorine (50\u2013500 ppm) absorbed from soil and fertilizers. During pyrolysis, this chlorine is released as hydrogen chloride (HCl) and organochlorine compounds.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>PVC (polyvinyl chloride) is the largest chlorine contributor in plastic-waste pyrolysis. PVC contains ~57% chlorine by weight. Even small amounts of PVC contamination in mixed plastic feedstock can generate thousands of ppm of chlorine in the oil.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Chlorinated curing agents and additives in tire manufacturing release HCl and chlorinated organics during pyrolysis.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Kitchen waste, paper, and textiles contain chlorinated compounds (including inadvertent PVC from packaging) that concentrate in the pyrolysis oil.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the pyrolysis oil, chlorine exists in two main forms: (1) inorganic chlorine \u2014 primarily dissolved HCl and chloride salts; and (2) organic chlorine \u2014 chlorinated aromatics, chloro-phenols, and other organochlorine species. Both must be removed to produce a usable, stable bio-oil product.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Why Chlorine Must Be Removed Before Refining<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">High chlorine content in pyrolysis oil causes cascading problems in every downstream process:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>HCl dissolved in the oil aggressively attacks stainless steel reactors, heat exchangers, distillation columns, and pipelines. Even 100 ppm Cl can cause pitting corrosion in 316L stainless steel at elevated temperatures.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>In hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) and catalytic cracking upgrading processes, chlorine deactivates catalysts (Ni, CoMo, Pt, zeolites) by binding to active sites, reducing catalyst life from months to days.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>When pyrolysis oil is burned as fuel, chlorine forms HCl gas and contributes to dioxin\/furan formation \u2014 subjecting operators to stringent air emission regulations.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Major fuel standards (EN 590 for diesel, ASTM D6751 for biodiesel) limit total chlorine to &lt;10 ppm. Engine manufacturers reject chlorinated fuels outright.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Activated carbon adsorption is one of the most effective and economical methods to remove both organic and inorganic chlorine species from pyrolysis oil, either as a standalone treatment or as a polishing step after distillation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>How Activated Carbon Removes Chlorine from Pyrolysis Oil<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Activated carbon removes chlorine compounds from pyrolysis oil through two complementary mechanisms:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The high-surface-area micropore network of activated carbon physically traps chlorinated aromatic compounds (e.g., chlorophenols, chlorobenzenes) through van der Waals forces. These larger organochlorine molecules are preferentially adsorbed in mesopores and micropores.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Dissolved hydrogen chloride reacts with basic surface functional groups and mineral ash components on the carbon surface, forming stable chloride salts. This chemical mechanism captures inorganic chlorine that physical adsorption alone cannot remove.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Under certain conditions, activated carbon surfaces can catalyze the breakdown of complex organochlorines into simpler, more easily adsorbed species, enhancing overall dechlorination efficiency.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In practice, coal-based crushed granular carbon can reduce total chlorine in pyrolysis oil from 500\u20132,000 ppm down to below 50 ppm in a single pass, and to &lt;10 ppm in a multi-stage or lead-lag configuration \u2014 meeting the most stringent refining feedstock specifications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"400\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/activatedcarbon.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/coal-granular-activated-carbon-wholesales1.jpg\" alt=\"charbon actif en granul\u00e9s vente en gros\" class=\"wp-image-1840\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/activatedcarbon.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/coal-granular-activated-carbon-wholesales1.jpg 400w, https:\/\/activatedcarbon.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/elementor\/thumbs\/coal-granular-activated-carbon-wholesales1-pusg6t5rdw5zy7z96pzwmvcw8jgd0xghx8x1mykx4o.jpg 300w, https:\/\/activatedcarbon.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/coal-granular-activated-carbon-wholesales1-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Why Raw-Coal Crushed Granular Carbon Is the Best Choice<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For pyrolysis oil dechlorination, we recommend coal-based crushed granular carbon \u2014 produced directly from selected raw coal by crushing, sizing, carbonization, and steam activation. Unlike extruded or briquetted carbon, raw-coal crushed carbon preserves the natural macropore network of the coal, providing several unique advantages for heavy oil treatment:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The crushing process retains the inherent macropores (&gt;50 nm) of raw coal, creating transport channels that allow viscous pyrolysis oil molecules and large organochlorine compounds to access the internal adsorption sites. This is critical for high-viscosity liquids where pore diffusion is the rate-limiting step.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Indicates an extensively developed micropore structure, providing maximum surface area for adsorbing both HCl and organochlorine molecules.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Carbon tetrachloride adsorption value confirms excellent capacity for chlorinated compounds \u2014 CCl\u2084 itself is a chlorinated molecule, making this metric directly relevant to chlorine removal performance.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Coal-based carbon&#8217;s mineral ash and graphitic structure provide natural resistance to the acidic HCl environment in pyrolysis oil, ensuring structural integrity throughout the adsorption cycle.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Resists mechanical degradation during oil flow, backwashing, and carbon change-out, minimizing fines that could contaminate the treated oil.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Raw-coal crushed carbon is the most economical GAC type for high-volume, high-contaminant liquid treatment where frequent carbon replacement is expected.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Technical Parameters of Our Coal-Based Crushed Carbon for Pyrolysis Oil Dechlorination<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Param\u00e8tres<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Unit\u00e9<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Sp\u00e9cifications<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Why It Matters for Chlorine Removal<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Mati\u00e8res premi\u00e8res<\/strong><\/td><td>\u2014<\/td><td>Selected bituminous coal<\/td><td>High carbon content, natural macropore structure<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Processus de fabrication<\/strong><\/td><td>\u2014<\/td><td>Crushing \u2192 Screening \u2192 Carbonization \u2192 Steam activation<\/td><td>Preserves natural macropores for viscous oil access<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Taille des particules (mesh)<\/strong><\/td><td>maille<\/td><td>8\u00d730 \/ 12\u00d740 \/ 4\u00d78<\/td><td>Select by flow rate &amp; bed design<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Indice d&#039;iode<\/strong><\/td><td>mg\/g<\/td><td>\u2265 1,000<\/td><td>High micropore development for maximum adsorption<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>CTC Adsorption (CCl\u2084)<\/strong><\/td><td>% (wt)<\/td><td>\u2265 55<\/td><td>Direct indicator of chlorinated compound capacity<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Specific Surface Area (BET)<\/strong><\/td><td>m\u00b2\/g<\/td><td>\u2265 950 \u2013 1,100<\/td><td>Enormous contact area for Cl compounds<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Total Pore Volume<\/strong><\/td><td>cm\u00b3\/g<\/td><td>\u2265 0.50<\/td><td>Adequate space for molecular diffusion<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Macropore Volume (&gt;50 nm)<\/strong><\/td><td>cm\u00b3\/g<\/td><td>\u2265 0.10<\/td><td>Transport channels for viscous pyrolysis oil<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Apparent \/ Bulk Density<\/strong><\/td><td>g\/cm\u00b3<\/td><td>0.45 \u2013 0.52<\/td><td>Optimized mass-per-volume for bed design<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Hardness \/ Abrasion Number<\/strong><\/td><td>%<\/td><td>\u2265 90<\/td><td>Resists fines under liquid flow &amp; backwashing<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Contenu en cendres<\/strong><\/td><td>%<\/td><td>\u2264 12<\/td><td>Contains minerals aiding HCl chemisorption<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Moisture (as packed)<\/strong><\/td><td>%<\/td><td>\u2264 5<\/td><td>Maximum active carbon content<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>pH<\/strong><\/td><td>\u2014<\/td><td>7 \u2013 10<\/td><td>Slightly basic surface aids HCl neutralization<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Particle Size Uniformity<\/strong><\/td><td>\u2014<\/td><td>\u2265 90% within specified range<\/td><td>Consistent flow &amp; adsorption<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Cl Removal Efficiency<\/strong><\/td><td>%<\/td><td>90 \u2013 98 (typical, single-pass)<\/td><td>Reduces Cl from &gt;500 ppm to &lt;50 ppm<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Typical Adsorption Capacity<\/strong><\/td><td>mg Cl\/g<\/td><td>30 \u2013 80 (lab-determined)<\/td><td>High chlorine loading per gram carbon<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>How to Apply Crushed Carbon for Pyrolysis Oil Dechlorination<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pyrolysis oil is significantly more viscous than water, so the treatment process must account for slower diffusion kinetics. Here is a recommended approach:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>1. Pre-treatment: <\/strong>If the pyrolysis oil has high solids content (&gt;1% suspended solids), pass it through a pre-filter (50\u2013100 \u00b5m) to remove particulates that would clog the carbon bed and reduce effective contact time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>2. Temperature control: <\/strong>Reduce oil viscosity by heating to 60\u201380 \u00b0C before the carbon adsorber. Lower viscosity improves pore diffusion and adsorption kinetics. Do not exceed 100 \u00b0C \u2014 excessive temperature reduces adsorption capacity (adsorption is exothermic).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>3. Determine contact time: <\/strong>For viscous pyrolysis oil, an Empty Bed Contact Time (EBCT) of 30\u201390 minutes is recommended (significantly longer than for water treatment). A lead-lag two-vessel configuration maximizes carbon utilization and allows continuous operation during carbon change-out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>4. Select the right mesh size: <\/strong>8\u00d730 mesh is standard for most fixed-bed adsorbers. 4\u00d78 mesh may be used for very viscous oils where pressure drop is a concern. 12\u00d740 mesh offers higher adsorption kinetics for lighter oil fractions or lower-viscosity applications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>5. Monitor chlorine breakthrough: <\/strong>Sample the treated oil regularly and test for total chlorine (ASTM D4929 or X-ray fluorescence). When the effluent chlorine exceeds the target (typically &lt;10 ppm or &lt;50 ppm depending on downstream use), replace the carbon in the lead vessel and rotate the lag vessel to lead position.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>6. Spent carbon management: <\/strong>Spent carbon from pyrolysis oil treatment is typically non-hazardous if the oil does not contain regulated toxics. It can be disposed of in approved landfills, used as a fuel substitute in cement kilns, or thermally reactivated to restore adsorption capacity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Where Is This Technology Applied?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Biomass pyrolysis plants \u2014 wood, agricultural residue, energy crop bio-oil upgrading<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Waste plastic pyrolysis \u2014 mixed plastic and PVC-contaminated plastic oil dechlorination<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Scrap tire pyrolysis \u2014 tire-derived oil (TDO) chlorine and sulfur removal<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Municipal solid waste (MSW) pyrolysis \u2014 RDF-derived oil treatment<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Sludge and waste oil pyrolysis \u2014 industrial waste-to-oil facilities<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Bio-oil refining \u2014 pre-treatment before hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) or catalytic cracking<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Pyrolysis gasoline (pygas) \u2014 chlorine removal before downstream petrochemical processing<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Fuel oil blending \u2014 polishing pyrolysis oil before blending with conventional fuels<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Why Choose Zhulin Carbon for Pyrolysis Oil Dechlorination?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Zhulin Carbon understands that pyrolysis oil is a challenging, non-standard liquid that demands specialized carbon solutions. Here is what sets us apart:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Our raw-coal crushed carbon achieves \u22651,000 mg\/g iodine number and \u226555% CTC, delivering the micropore surface area and chlorinated-compound capacity needed for effective dechlorination.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Unlike extruded carbons, our crushed carbon preserves the coal&#8217;s natural macropore network, critical for viscous pyrolysis oil diffusion.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Available in 4\u00d78, 8\u00d730, and 12\u00d740 mesh to match your flow rate, viscosity, and pressure-drop requirements.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Our carbon has been deployed in pyrolysis plants processing biomass, waste plastic, and scrap tire feedstocks worldwide.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Our engineers help optimize EBCT, bed sizing, and operating temperature; we can run lab-scale adsorption tests on your specific oil sample.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Spent carbon can be thermally reactivated to reduce lifecycle costs and support sustainability goals.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>25 kg bags, 500 kg \/ 1,000 kg super sacks, or bulk delivery. We maintain strategic inventory for rapid project deployment.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Conclusion<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Chlorine removal is one of the most critical upgrading steps in converting pyrolysis oil from a raw product into a refinery-ready feedstock or marketable fuel. Coal-based crushed granular activated carbon \u2014 with its natural macropore network, high iodine number (\u22651,000 mg\/g), and high CTC adsorption (\u226555%) \u2014 offers the optimal combination of adsorption capacity, diffusion access, mechanical strength, and cost-effectiveness for this demanding application. With Zhulin Carbon&#8217;s specialized GAC grades and technical expertise, pyrolysis plant operators can reliably meet chlorine specifications of &lt;10\u201350 ppm, protecting downstream equipment, catalysts, and product quality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ready to upgrade your pyrolysis oil quality? Contact our technical team at info@activatedcarbon.net or call +86-19949132731 for free samples, lab-scale testing on your oil sample, and expert system design support.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Introduction Pyrolysis oil \u2014 also known as bio-oil \u2014 is a dark, viscous liquid produced by the thermal decomposition of biomass, waste plastics, or scrap tires in the absence of oxygen. As the world shifts toward renewable energy and circular economy solutions, pyrolysis oil has emerged as a promising alternative fuel and chemical feedstock. However, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[76],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-11638","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-activated-carbon-manufacturers"],"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":false,"thumbnail":false,"medium":false,"medium_large":false,"large":false,"1536x1536":false,"2048x2048":false,"trp-custom-language-flag":false},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"zhulincarbon","author_link":"https:\/\/activatedcarbon.net\/fr\/author\/zhulincarbon\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"Introduction Pyrolysis oil \u2014 also known as bio-oil \u2014 is a dark, viscous liquid produced by the thermal decomposition of biomass, waste plastics, or scrap tires in the absence of oxygen. As the world shifts toward renewable energy and circular economy solutions, pyrolysis oil has emerged as a promising alternative fuel and chemical feedstock. However,\u2026","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/activatedcarbon.net\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11638","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/activatedcarbon.net\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/activatedcarbon.net\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/activatedcarbon.net\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/activatedcarbon.net\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11638"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/activatedcarbon.net\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11638\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/activatedcarbon.net\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11638"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/activatedcarbon.net\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11638"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/activatedcarbon.net\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11638"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}