What is the Lifespan of Activated Carbon?

The consumption rate of activated carbon can vary depending on the type of activated carbon used, the application characteristics and the type of pollutant. Different types of activated carbon have different adsorption capacities and performance characteristics, so the useful life also varies.

The activated carbon consumption time is usually determined by a certain utilization capacity or saturation point. The higher the adsorption capacity of the activated carbon used, the longer the consumption time.

Granular activated carbon used in water treatment systems, for example, has a service life of 6 to 12 months. However, in industrial applications where more concentrated contaminants are present, the activated carbon may need to be replaced more frequently. In other industrial applications, the service life can sometimes be more than 3 years.

The service life of activated carbon depends on the operating conditions, flow rate, degree of contamination, storage conditions and maintenance practices.

Depending on the requirements of the application and performance monitoring, the activated charcoal must be replaced or reactivated after a certain period of time. This can be done at the point at which the adsorption capacity decreases or the performance is impaired.