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What Is CTC Value in Activated Carbon? A Simple Guide for Gas Purification Applications
Release time:
2025-06-13 15:47
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If you’re choosing activated carbon for air or gas purification, you’ve probably come across something called the CTC value. But what does it actually mean? And how does it affect performance?
Let’s break it down in a simple and practical way—so you can make the right choice for your project.
CTC Value: What It Means
CTC stands for Carbon Tetrachloride Activity. It tells you how much carbon tetrachloride (a gas) the activated carbon can adsorb under standard test conditions. The number is shown as a percentage—so a CTC value of 60% means the carbon can adsorb 60% of its own weight in carbon tetrachloride.
Even though we don’t always need to remove carbon tetrachloride specifically, this test helps us understand how well the carbon can handle other VOCs (volatile organic compounds) too.
Why the CTC Value Matters
In short: the higher the CTC value, the stronger the gas adsorption power. This makes it especially important in industries like:
Industrial gas purification
VOC removal in factories
Air filtration systems
Personal protection equipment (PPE)
Emission control
So if you’re removing harmful gases or odors, checking the CTC value is a smart starting point.
How CTC Is Tested
To measure the CTC value, carbon is exposed to air mixed with carbon tetrachloride under set temperature and humidity. Then, the test measures how much gas the carbon traps. The more it traps, the higher the CTC value.
What Affects the CTC Value?
Several factors affect a carbon’s CTC performance. Here are the main ones:
| Factor | What Happens |
|---|---|
| Raw material | Hardwood-based carbon usually has higher CTC |
| Activation process | Steam or chemical activation changes pore structure |
| Grain size | Smaller particles mean more surface area → higher CTC |
| Pore structure | More micropores help trap smaller gas molecules |
| Surface treatment | Some carbons are specially treated for gases like H₂S |
CTC vs. Real-World Performance
A high CTC value is useful—but not always the only thing you need. In some situations, specially treated carbon with a lower CTC may perform better, especially if you're targeting a specific gas like hydrogen sulfide (H₂S).
So when choosing activated carbon, also consider:
What gas you need to remove
The airflow and temperature of your system
Whether the carbon is used once or reused
Which Carbon Types Are Used for Gas Adsorption?
Here are some common choices:
Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) – Flexible and widely used
Powdered Activated Carbon (PAC) – Good for fast-acting systems
Honeycomb Activated Carbon – Ideal for large airflows and low pressure drop
Quick Tips When Buying Activated Carbon
When you talk to your supplier, ask about:
The CTC value
The base material (wood, coal, coconut)
The target applications (e.g. VOCs, H₂S, odors)
At Jiayuan Carbon, we provide activated carbon with optimized CTC values for gas purification. Whether it’s for factory emissions or clean air systems, we can help you find the right product.
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