Activated Carbon Efficiency Table for Vapor GAC

Some of the contaminants listed in the following table are specific chemical compounds. Some represent classes of compounds, and others are mixtures of variable composition. The activated carbon capacity for odors as noted in the table by the numbers 1-4, varies somewhat with the odors concentration in the air with humidity and temperature. The numbers listed in the Index represent typical or average conditions, and might vary in specific instances. These are some of the more common chemicals that we are asked to address.

The capacity index numbers on the Carbon Efficiency Table are clarified by the following descriptions:

(4) High capacity for all materials in this category. One pound of carbon adsorb approximately  20%  to 50% of its own weight. This category includes most of the odor causing substances.

(3) Satisfactory capacity for all items in this category. These constitute good applications but the capacity is not as high as for category 4. One pound of carbon adsorbs approximately 10% to 20% of its own weight.

(2) Includes substances which are not highly adsorbed, but which might be taken up sufficiently to be of good service under the particular conditions of operations. These require individual checking.

(1) Adsorption capacity is low for these materials. Activated carbon cannot be satisfactorily used to remove them under ordinary circumstances.

Note:

* These contaminants can be removed with specially impregnated carbon which will raise the category of efficiency for that contaminant to category 3 or 4. 

*

Acetic acid

4

 

Dichloroethylene

4

 

Isopropyl alcohol

4

 

Propyl chloride

4

 

Acetic anhydride

4

 

Dichloroethyl ether

4

 

Masking agents

4

 

Propyl ether

4

 

Acetone

3

 

Dichloromonofluomethane

3

 

Medicinal odors

4

 

Propyl mercaptan

4

*

Acetylene

1

 

Dichloromonofluomethane

3

 

Melons

4

*

Propyne

2

*

Acrolein

3

 

Dichloropropane

4

 

Menthol

4

 

Putrefying substances

3

 

Acrylic acid

4

 

Dichlorotetrafluroethane

4

 

Mercaptans

4

 

Putrescine

3

 

Acrylonitrile

4

 

Diesel fumes fumeador

4

 

Methane

1

 

Radiation products

2

 

Adhesives

4

*

Diethylamine

3

 

Methyl acetate

3

 

Rancid oil

4

 

Air-Wick

4

 

Doethyl ketone

4

 

Methyl acrylic

4

 

Resins

4

 

Alcoholic beverages

4

 

Dimethylaniline

4

 

Methyl alcohol

3

 

Reodorants

4

*

Amines

2

 

Dimethylsulfate

4

 

Methyl bromide

3

 

Ripening fruits

4

*

Ammonia

2

 

Dioxane

4

 

Methyl butyl ketone

4

 

Rubber

4

 

Amyl acetate

4

 

Dipropyl ketone

4

 

Methyl cellosolve

4

 

Sauerkraut

4

 

Amyl alcohol

4

 

Disinfectants

4

 

Methyl cellosolve acetate

4

 

Sewer odors

4

 

Amyl ether

4

 

Embalming odors

4

 

Methyl chloride

3

 

Skatole

4

 

Animal odors

3

 

Ethane

1

 

Methyl chloroform

4

 

Slaughtering odors

3

 

Anesthetics

3

 

Ether

3

 

Methyl ether

3

 

Smog

4

 

Aniline

4

 

Ethyl acetate

4

 

Methyl ether ketone

4

 

Smoke

4

 

Antiseptics

4

 

Ethyl acrylic

4

 

Methyl formate

3

 

Soaps

4

 

Asphalt fumes

4

 

Ethyl alcohol

4

 

Methyl isobutl ketone

4

 

Solvents

3

 

Automobile exhaust

3

*

Ethylamine

3

 

Methyl mercaptan

4

 

Sour mnk

4

 

Bathroom smells

4

 

Ethyl benzene

4

 

Methylcyclohexane

4

 

Spilled beverages

4

 

Benzene

4

 

Ethyl bromide

4

 

Methylcyclo-hexanol

4

 

Spoiled foodstuffs

4

*

Bleaching solutions

3

 

Ethyl chloride

3

 

Methylcyclohexanone

4

 

Stoddard solvent

4

 

Body odors

4

 

Ethyl ether

3

 

Methyl oxide

4

 

Stuffiness

4

 

Borane

3

*

Ethyl formate

3

 

Methylene chloride

1

 

Styrene monomer

4

 

Bromine

4

 

Ethyl mercaptan

3

 

Methylmetha-crylate

4

*

Sulfur dioxide

2

 

Burned flesh

4

 

Ethyl silicate

4

 

Mildew

3

*

Sulfur trioxide

3

 

Burned food

4

*

Ethylene

1

 

Mixed odors

4

 

Sulfuric acid

4

 

Buming fat

4

 

Ethylene chlorhydrin

1

 

Mold

3

 

Tar

4

 

Butadiene

3

 

Ethylene dichloride

4

 

Monochloro-benzene

4

*

Tarnishing gases

3

 

Butane

2

 

Ethylene oxide

4

 

Monoflurotri-chloromethane           4

 

Tetrachlor-ethylene

4

 

Butanone

4

 

Essential oils

3

 

Mothballs

4

 

Tetrachloro-ethane

4

 

Butyl acetate

4

 

Eucalyptole

4

 

Naptha (coal tar)

4

 

Toilet odors

4

 

Butyl cellosolve

4

 

Exhaust fumes

4

 

Naptha (petroleum)

4

 

Toulene

4

 

Butyl chloride

4

 

Fertilizer

3

 

Napthalene

4

 

Toluidine

4

 

Butyl ether

4

 

Film processing odors

4

 

Nicotine

4

 

Trichlorethylene

4

*

Butylene

2

 

Fish odors

3

*

Nitric acid

3

 

Trichloroethane

4

*

Butyne

2

 

Floral scents

4

 

Nitro benzenes

4

 

Urea

4

 

Butyraldehyde

3

 

Flurotrichloromethane

4

 

Nitroethane

4

 

Uric acid

4

 

Butyric acid

4

 

Food aromas

3

*

Nitrogen dioxide

2

 

Valeric acid

4

 

Cadaverine

3

*

Formaldehyde

4

 

Nitroglycerine

4

 

Valericaldehyde

4

 

Camphor

4

 

Formic acid

2

 

Nitromethane

4

 

Varnish fumes

4

 

Cancer odor

4

 

Fuel gases

3

 

Nitropropane

4

 

Vinegar

4

 

Caprylic acid

4

 

Fumes

2

 

Nonane

4

 

Vinyl chloride

3

 

Carbolic acid

4

 

Gangrene

3

 

Octalene

4

 

Waste products

3

 

Carbon disulfide

4

 

Garlic

4

 

Octane

4

 

Wood Alcohol

3

*

Carbon dioxide

1

 

Gasoline

4

 

Odorants

4

 

Xylene

4

 

Carbon mmonixide

1

 

Heptane

4

 

Onions

4

 

 

 

 

Carbon tetrachloride

4

 

Heptylene

4

 

Organic chemicals

4

 

 

 

 

Cellosolve

4

 

Hexane

4

 

Ozone

4

 

 

 

 

Cellosolve acetate

4

*

Hexylene

3

 

Packing house odors

4

 

 

 

 

Charred materials

4

*

Hexyne

3

 

Paint odor

4

 

 

 

 

Cheese

4

 

Hospital odors

3

 

Paste and glue

4

 

 

 

 

Chlorine

3

 

Household smells

4

 

Pentane

3

 

 

 

 

Chlorobenzene

4

 

Hydrogen

4

 

Pentanone

4

 

 

 

 

Chlorbutadiene

4

*

Hydrogen bromide

1

*

Pentylene

3

 

 

 

 

Chloroform

4

 

Hydrogen chloride

2

*

Pentyne

3

 

 

 

 

Chloronitropropane

4

*

Hydrogen cyanide

2

 

Perchloroethylene

4

 

 

 

 

Chloropicrin

4

*

Hydrogen sulfide

3

 

Perfumes, costmetics

4

 

 

 

 

Cigarette smoke odor

4

 

Incense

4

 

Perspirations

4

 

 

 

 

Citrus and other fruits

4

 

Indole

4

 

Pet odors

4

 

 

 

 

Cleaning compounds

4

 

Industrial wastes

3

 

Phenol

4

 

 

 

 

Combustion odors

3

 

Iodine

4

 

Phoagne

3

 

 

 

 

Corrosive gases

3

 

Iodoform

4

 

Popcorn and candy

4

 

 

 

 

Cooking odors

4

 

Irritants

4

 

Poultry odors

4

 

 

 

 

Creosote

4

 

Isophorone

4

 

Propane

2

 

 

 

 

Creosol

4

*

Isoprene

3

*

Propionaldehyde

3

 

 

 

 

Crotonaldehyde

4

 

Isopropyl acetate

4

 

Propionic acid

4