Activated carbons (ACs) are processed carbon-rich materials with a highly developed inner surface and significant porosity used for different media treatment in municipal and industrial plants. Activated carbon may be manufactured as powdered activated carbon (PAC), gritty activated carbon (in a form of raw angels grains) or granulated activated carbon (GAC). The production of the GAC is based on carbonaceous raw materials and various types of binders. The carbon mass is mixed with the binder and formed in cylindrical granules. The binder's recognition is in a scientific literature side-topic and still needs wider examination. For many years GAC production have been concentrated on the possibility of using sodium carboxymethylcellulose (SCMC). Therefore, the aim of the research was to develop a new binder, in the available technology of granulated activated carbon production. Such binders were tested such as: tall oil (TO), sugar beet molasses (SBM), sodium carboxymethylcellulose (SCMC), SCMC using a verified technological process and SCMC with the addition of gas tar (GT). The conducted research shows that all the quality requirements were met by activated carbons with SBM as a binder. Additionally they showed very high adsorption properties. The manufacturing process was shorter in comparison to other tested binders and more efficient.
Keywords: GAC activation; GAC porosity; granulated activated carbons (GAC), binders.