Coconut Shell Activated Carbon for VOCs Removal from Petroleum Refining

Введение

In petroleum refining, due to the complexity of raw materials, the variability of reaction conditions, and the numerous separation processes, various volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are often generated along with feed gas, exhaust gas, or equipment leaks. These VOCs not only affect production safety and environmental emission compliance but may also negatively impact catalysts, equipment, and the quality of final products.

Therefore, selecting efficient, stable, and reliable adsorption materials to remove VOCs has become a key requirement in the industry. Among them, coconut shell activated carbon, with its excellent microporous structure, high adsorption strength, and good chemical stability, is widely used in gas purification systems in oil refineries.

Активированный уголь из скорлупы кокосового ореха

Coconut shell activated carbon is made from coconut shells through high-temperature carbonization and activation. It possesses extremely high hardness and a rich microporous structure. Its pore size distribution is concentrated in the micropore and mesopore range, which is highly effective in capturing common VOCs molecules such as benzene compounds, alkanes, and alkenes. Due to its high specific surface area and large pore volume, coconut shell activated carbon can firmly lock VOCs in the gaseous atmosphere within its pores through physical adsorption and achieve controlled desorption under suitable temperature and pressure conditions, thus meeting the regeneration requirements of many refineries.

During long-term operation, coconut shell activated carbon exhibits excellent wear resistance, chemical corrosion resistance, and a low pulverization rate, enabling it to maintain stable performance even under continuous gas flow treatment and high-frequency regeneration conditions—a characteristic that is difficult to match by other types of activated carbon.

Coconut shell activated carbon parameters

Coconut shell activated carbon is widely accepted in the oil refining industry primarily due to the following advantages:

• High specific surface area, facilitating rapid adsorption of light organic matter;
• High hardness and low pulverization rate, suitable for high-flow-rate, high-frequency regeneration systems;
• Strong adsorption capacity for common VOCs such as benzene, toluene, ethylene, and alkanes.

Typical Applications in Petroleum Refining Processes

In petroleum refining units, coconut shell activated carbon is commonly used for:

• VOCs capture in feed gas and associated gas
• Removal of trace organic impurities from pyrolysis gas and catalytic dry gas
• Storage tank breathing gas purification systems to reduce fugitive emissions
• Adsorption of gasoline and diesel vapor recovery systems to improve energy efficiency
• Tail gas treatment devices to reduce emission standards

These applications not only improve overall environmental protection levels but also help enhance the stability of unit operation, reduce equipment corrosion, and minimize the impact of trace organic matter on catalysts.

In some cases, coconut shell activated carbon is also used in “adsorption-desorption-condensation recovery” systems, achieving a dual improvement in economic and environmental benefits through the adsorption and centralized recovery of VOCs.

Заключение

Coconut shell activated carbon, with its superior microporous structure, high strength, and stable adsorption performance, has become a key material for VOCs control in the petroleum refining industry.

If your plant is looking for more efficient, durable, and stable VOCs adsorption materials, or wishes to optimize its existing adsorption-regeneration system, please contact Zhulin Carbon. As a professional supplier with many years of experience in the activated carbon industry, Zhulin Carbon can provide customized solutions for high-quality coconut shell activated carbon and offer technical support for various petroleum refining scenarios.