Carbon. Does shape and Density matter?

[Hobster]

With the many types and brands on the market does it make much differance?
Some carbon is granular, cylindrical and some spherical. Some is harder or denser then others.
It seems as if the softer, granulated would soak up more but maybe that isn't actually so??
Thanks.:)

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

There are big differences in the efficiency of different types and brands of GAC. The effective surface area is a big one. Whether overall shape makes much difference, I don't know but I expect not much.

Boomer or others, any additional comments?

[Hobster]

That's what is confusing to me. I would think that granlated with it's small sizes would have more surface area. It also is softer which to me would absorb more. I know that Boomer likes the spherical shape brand, something about water flow??

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I would think that granlated with it's small sizes would have more surface area.

No, the surface is internal in pores. Not the visible surface area. :)

[Hobster]

ah ha, Internal pores.:)

Will these specs help one decide one type over another? What do they mean?

Specifications

Mean Diamter
Density g/cc
Pore Volume (PV) mL/cc
Total Surface Area (TSA) m2/cc
TSA/PV m2/mL
Iodine # >
Molasses # >
pH in distilled water2
Leachable Phosphate g/cc


I took the numbers out as I am not trying to judge this brand, just trying to make sense of molasses# and if higher or lower density is better or not. I imagine high pore and tsa is a good thing.

[Boomer]

Go read all my old post, most are in this link :D

http://archive.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=462731&perpage=25&highlight=GAC&pagenumber=1

[Hobster]

Originally posted by Boomer
Go read all my old post, most are in this link :D

http://archive.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=462731&perpage=25&highlight=GAC&pagenumber=1

Thanks. I do recall reading most of them. You mean we can no longer ask repetitive, redundant questions in the Chemistry forum?:D

I must have glossed over but could not find anything on Molasses"# what is that?

[Boomer]

I must have glossed over but could not find anything on Molasses"# what is that?

It is there you must have missed it ;) It is the ability of GAC to remove molasses. Molasses, is an indication of the ability to remove large molecules.

4) High Molasses Number: above 400

Go here for a review of terms
http://www.carbochem.com/activatedcarbon101.html

You mean we can no longer ask repetitive, redundant questions in the Chemistry forum?

No, not when you asked it already :D

[Hobster]

Yep, sure enough it was link number 1 of 6 of 3 of 12:D

Thanks, that is a very informative summary of the parameters. I have printed it for future reference.:thumbsup: