Coconut Shell Granular Activated Carbon - 8×30 & 12×40 Mesh
Coconut Shell Granular Activated Carbon - 8×30 & 12×40 Mesh - 8x30 / Trial Bag - 27.5 lb (12.5 kg) is backordered and will ship as soon as it is back in stock.
Couldn't load pickup availability
Bulk pallet & supersack discount - save on 2+ pallets or supersacks. Live freight quotes at checkout.
| Minimum Qty | Discount |
|---|---|
| 2 + | 5% off |
| 4 + | 10% off |
Overview
Coconut Shell Granular Activated Carbon is an industrial adsorption media produced from coconut shell feedstock and used for purification of water, beverages, process liquids, and compatible industrial streams. Its predominantly microporous pore structure makes coconut-based GAC especially useful for adsorption of chlorine, taste-and-odor compounds, volatile organic compounds, and many low-molecular-weight dissolved organics.
Sorbents Direct offers coconut shell GAC in 8×30 mesh and 12×40 mesh. The appropriate mesh depends on the required adsorption rate, pressure-drop limits, vessel design, flow rate, contact time, and contaminant-removal objective.
Available mesh sizes: 8×30 and 12×40
Available packaging: 27.5 lb (12.47 kg) bags and 1,100 lb (approximately 499 kg) supersacks
Common uses: Water treatment, dechlorination, beverage processing, process-water polishing, odor control, and dissolved-organic reduction
Freight: Parcel or LTL shipping based on package size and order quantity
Primary applications
- Municipal and industrial water treatment: Reduction of free chlorine, taste-and-odor compounds, and selected dissolved organics
- Drinking-water treatment: Carbon-bed polishing where an appropriately qualified carbon grade is required
- Beverage and brewing water: Dechlorination and sensory polishing of incoming process water
- Food and ingredient processing: Purification of compatible process liquids using a grade selected for the required regulatory and quality standards
- Reverse-osmosis pretreatment: Chlorine reduction upstream of chlorine-sensitive membrane systems
- Process-water polishing: Removal of selected organic contaminants before reuse, discharge, or downstream processing
- Industrial liquid purification: Guard beds and polishing systems for compatible liquid-phase applications
- Pilot and validation systems: Small-scale media trials before full vessel loading or process conversion
Why choose coconut shell activated carbon?
- Microporous adsorption structure: Coconut shell carbon is commonly selected for chlorine, odor compounds, volatile organics, and many smaller dissolved molecules
- High mechanical durability: Properly manufactured coconut GAC is generally valued for strong granule integrity and reduced attrition during handling and service
- Liquid-phase performance: Frequently used in fixed beds, pressure vessels, polish filters, and process-water systems
- Multiple mesh options: Choose between faster adsorption kinetics or lower pressure drop based on the system design
- Scalable packaging: Available for pilot use, maintenance additions, and production-scale vessel changeouts
- Renewable feedstock: Manufactured from coconut shells, an agricultural byproduct
Actual adsorption capacity, hardness, ash, moisture, iodine number, pore distribution, extractables, and regulatory suitability vary by grade. Confirm current technical documentation before final product qualification.
Choose the appropriate mesh size
| Selection factor | 8×30 mesh | 12×40 mesh |
|---|---|---|
| Granule size | Coarser | Finer |
| Pressure drop | Generally lower at comparable operating conditions | Generally higher at comparable operating conditions |
| Adsorption kinetics | Moderate | Typically faster due to smaller granule size |
| Hydraulic loading | Often preferred for larger vessels and higher-flow systems | Often selected where faster mass transfer is prioritized |
| Common uses | Large carbon beds, municipal water, industrial treatment, higher-flow systems | Polishing filters, beverage water, process water, smaller vessels, RO pretreatment |
| Primary tradeoff | Lower resistance to flow with somewhat slower adsorption kinetics | Faster adsorption kinetics with potentially greater pressure drop |
These comparisons are general selection principles. Final performance depends on vessel geometry, loading rate, backwash conditions, water chemistry, contaminant concentration, and the specific carbon grade.
What can coconut shell GAC reduce?
| Contaminant or treatment objective | General suitability | Important considerations |
|---|---|---|
| Free chlorine | Common primary application | Performance depends on flow, contact time, influent concentration, pH, temperature, and carbon condition |
| Taste and odor compounds | Common polishing application | Effectiveness varies by compound and competitive organic loading |
| Volatile organic compounds | Suitable for many compounds | Confirm adsorption data for the exact target compound and operating conditions |
| Dissolved organic compounds | Suitable for many low-molecular-weight organics | Pore-size compatibility and background organic matter influence performance |
| Color-producing organics | May provide useful reduction | Testing is recommended because color bodies can vary significantly in molecular size |
| Chloramine | Grade dependent | Catalytic activated carbon may be preferable for demanding chloramine-removal applications |
| PFAS | Highly grade and compound dependent | Use a carbon specifically evaluated for the target PFAS profile; shorter-chain compounds can be more difficult to adsorb |
| Dissolved metals and inorganic salts | Generally not the primary function of standard GAC | Other treatment media or chemical processes may be required |
Important: Activated carbon is not equally effective for every contaminant. Confirm treatment suitability through manufacturer data, bench testing, pilot testing, or qualified process design.
Typical product characteristics
| Product type | Coconut shell granular activated carbon |
|---|---|
| Available particle sizes | 8×30 mesh and 12×40 mesh |
| Physical form | Black granular adsorption media |
| Primary phase | Liquid-phase treatment |
| Common treatment functions | Dechlorination, taste-and-odor control, VOC adsorption, dissolved-organic reduction, and process-liquid polishing |
| Feedstock | Coconut shell |
| Available packaging | 27.5 lb bags and 1,100 lb supersacks |
Technical-data note: Sorbents Direct does not currently display a grade-specific Carbon Activated Corporation TDS, SDS, or COA for this listing. Iodine number, hardness, ash, moisture, apparent density, pH, surface area, pore volume, certification status, and other technical values should be confirmed for the exact supplied grade before qualification or process design.
Packaging & availability
| Package size | Typical use |
|---|---|
| 27.5 lb (12.47 kg) bag | Pilot systems, small vessels, maintenance additions, sampling, and incremental media replacement |
| 1,100 lb (approximately 499 kg) supersack | Production vessels, full bed changeouts, recurring industrial use, and bulk handling systems |
- Mesh options: 8×30 and 12×40
- Bag orders: Suitable for smaller systems and manual loading
- Supersack orders: Suitable for bulk handling and production-scale media requirements
- Freight: Parcel, pallet, or LTL service based on package size, quantity, and destination
- Lead time: Confirmed at quotation or order placement
- Volume purchasing: Contact Sorbents Direct for recurring requirements, pallet quantities, or delivered bulk pricing
System design and sizing guidance
Activated-carbon performance is controlled by more than total carbon weight. A successful system should account for contaminant type, influent concentration, required effluent quality, flow rate, vessel dimensions, bed depth, empty-bed contact time, pressure drop, competing organics, temperature, and replacement frequency.
- Flow rate: Determines hydraulic loading and contributes to contact time and pressure drop
- Empty-bed contact time: Longer contact time generally provides greater opportunity for adsorption and reaction
- Bed depth: Sufficient depth helps maintain a usable mass-transfer zone and reduce premature breakthrough
- Influent concentration: Higher contaminant loading can shorten media life
- Competing contaminants: Natural organic matter and other adsorbates can consume available carbon capacity
- Particle size: Finer carbon may improve adsorption kinetics but can increase resistance to flow
- Backwashing and commissioning: Proper media preparation helps remove fines, settle the bed, and establish stable operation
Share your flow rate, vessel dimensions, target contaminant, influent concentration, and desired effluent level through our contact page for product-selection and preliminary sizing assistance.
Installation and startup considerations
- Inspect the vessel, distributors, underdrain, screens, and retention components before loading
- Confirm that the selected mesh will be retained by the vessel internals
- Load the carbon using methods that minimize breakage and airborne dust
- Allow for bed expansion if backwashing will be used
- Flush or backwash new carbon as required to remove transport fines
- Do not place the system into critical service until startup water meets the applicable quality requirements
- Monitor pressure drop and effluent quality to establish a baseline for future media replacement
Startup procedures should be based on the vessel manufacturer’s instructions, the supplied carbon documentation, and the requirements of the treated process.
Handling & storage
- Store unused activated carbon in a clean, dry, protected area
- Keep bags and supersacks closed until use
- Prevent contamination by oils, solvents, chemicals, moisture, and foreign material
- Minimize dust generation during unloading, transfer, and vessel filling
- Use suitable ventilation and personal protective equipment as directed by the current SDS
- Wet activated carbon can reduce oxygen in enclosed spaces; follow confined-space procedures around vessels and carbon beds
- Keep activated carbon away from strong oxidizing agents and other incompatible materials identified in the SDS
- Handle spent carbon according to the adsorbed contaminants and all applicable environmental requirements
Important: The hazards of spent activated carbon depend on what it has adsorbed. A current SDS and site-specific handling procedure should be reviewed before use, removal, storage, transport, or disposal.
Why buy from Sorbents Direct?
Activated carbon selection involves more than choosing a bag size. Sorbents Direct helps industrial buyers compare mesh, packaging, freight, documentation, and application requirements before purchase.
- Transparent online pricing on qualifying package sizes and variants
- Small and bulk formats for trials, maintenance, and full production beds
- Live freight quotes at checkout for eligible shipments
- Manufacturer documentation including SDS, TDS, and COA when available
- Technical selection support based on flow, contaminant targets, bed geometry, and pressure-drop requirements
- Bulk purchasing assistance for recurring industrial requirements
- Real support from people who understand industrial materials
Documentation & quality support
Available documentation may include:
- Safety Data Sheet (SDS)
- Technical Data Sheet (TDS)
- Certificate of Analysis for the supplied production lot, when available
- Particle-size and packaging information
- Food, water, or regulatory documentation where applicable to the selected grade
- Freight and handling information
Specific certifications or compliance claims should not be assumed for this general listing. When NSF/ANSI, food-contact, drinking-water, acid-washed, low-ash, or other qualification requirements apply, identify them before ordering so the appropriate grade can be confirmed.
Visit our Documentation Center or contact Sorbents Direct to request current documents for the required mesh and package size.
Need help choosing the right activated carbon?
The appropriate activated carbon depends on the target contaminant, liquid chemistry, flow rate, required contact time, vessel configuration, pressure-drop limit, regulatory requirements, and replacement strategy. Sorbents Direct can help compare coconut shell, coal-based, powdered, pelletized, and specialty activated-carbon options for controlled evaluation.
Questions & answers
What is coconut shell granular activated carbon?
It is a granular adsorption media manufactured from coconut shells that have been carbonized and activated to create an extensive internal pore structure. It is commonly used for dechlorination, taste-and-odor control, VOC adsorption, and dissolved-organic reduction.
What is the difference between 8×30 and 12×40 mesh?
8×30 mesh is coarser and generally provides lower pressure drop. 12×40 mesh is finer and generally provides faster adsorption kinetics, although it may create greater resistance to flow. Vessel design and operating conditions should guide the selection.
Which mesh is better for water treatment?
Both can be suitable. Larger municipal or industrial vessels may favor 8×30 mesh for hydraulic performance, while 12×40 mesh may be preferred in polishing systems where faster adsorption is important. The final choice depends on flow, contact time, vessel internals, and pressure-drop limits.
Does coconut shell carbon remove chlorine?
Yes. Dechlorination is one of the most common uses of coconut shell GAC. Actual performance and service life depend on chlorine concentration, contact time, flow, pH, temperature, water chemistry, and carbon condition.
Does it remove chloramine?
Standard coconut GAC may reduce chloramine, but catalytic activated carbon is often preferred where high chloramine-removal efficiency or longer service life is required. Confirm the target and operating conditions before selecting a grade.
Can this carbon be used for drinking water or beverages?
Coconut shell GAC is widely used in drinking-water and beverage applications, but the exact supplied grade must meet the required quality, certification, and regulatory standards. Request documentation before ordering when NSF/ANSI, food-contact, or other compliance requirements apply.
Is this carbon acid washed?
This general listing does not guarantee acid-washed processing. Acid-washed grades may be available, but the requirement should be specified before quotation and confirmed through the current TDS or COA.
Does coconut shell GAC remove PFAS?
Some granular activated carbons can adsorb certain PFAS compounds, particularly longer-chain compounds, but performance is highly grade and water-chemistry dependent. A carbon specifically evaluated for the PFAS profile should be selected, and pilot testing may be necessary.
How much activated carbon do I need?
The required amount depends on the vessel volume, desired bed depth, carbon density, flow rate, contact time, and contaminant loading. Provide the vessel dimensions and operating data for preliminary sizing support.
How long does activated carbon last?
Media life varies widely. It depends on influent concentration, flow, contact time, competing organics, bed depth, carbon grade, water chemistry, and the required effluent quality. Breakthrough monitoring is the most reliable basis for replacement.
Can activated carbon be regenerated?
Some spent GAC can be thermally reactivated, particularly from larger industrial systems. Feasibility depends on the carbon quantity, adsorbed contaminants, transportation, reactivation losses, and regulatory considerations.
Should new carbon be rinsed before use?
New GAC commonly requires flushing or backwashing to remove transport fines and settle the bed. Follow the vessel instructions and current carbon documentation before placing the system into service.
What package sizes are available?
The currently listed formats are 27.5 lb bags and 1,100 lb supersacks. Availability should be confirmed for the required mesh and grade.
Is freight included in the product price?
Freight is generally separate. Shipping may be calculated by parcel or LTL depending on the package size, quantity, destination, and delivery requirements.
What documentation is available?
SDS, TDS, and lot-specific COA documentation may be available for the selected grade. Regulatory or certification documents should be requested before ordering when they are required for the application.
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Coconut Shell Granular Activated Carbon - 8×30 & 12×40 Mesh
