Product Overview

The EHW series activated carbon adsorption tower is specially designed for the treatment of industrial organic exhaust gas and odor emissions.

Activated carbon adsorption is an effective treatment method for removing odors, natural and synthetic organic compounds, trace pollutants and other contaminants from industrial exhaust gas. Many relatively large organic molecules, aromatic compounds and halogenated hydrocarbons can be firmly adsorbed onto the surface and within the pores of activated carbon.

The system also provides effective removal of humic substances, synthetic organic compounds and low-molecular-weight organic pollutants. As a deep purification process, activated carbon adsorption is also widely used in advanced water and wastewater treatment, including municipal water purification and final-stage wastewater polishing.

When the incoming exhaust gas contains a relatively high concentration of dust or particulate matter, the activated carbon adsorption unit can be combined with water curtain equipment, spray scrubbers, UV photolysis or plasma treatment systems. These pretreatment processes help protect the activated carbon bed and improve overall exhaust gas purification performance.

The EHW series activated carbon adsorption tower can capture organic solvent vapors containing benzene compounds, alcohols, ketones, aldehydes, esters, gasoline vapors and other VOCs. It is particularly suitable for small-air-volume, high-concentration organic exhaust gas treatment.

The equipment is widely used in coating, food processing, printed circuit board production, semiconductor manufacturing, chemical processing, electronics, leather production, latex product manufacturing, paper production and other industries.

The activated carbon adsorption system uses porous activated carbon as the solid adsorbent. Its developed pore structure effectively captures organic pollutants, odors and color-causing substances from industrial exhaust gas.

During operation, contaminated gas enters the adsorption tower through the duct system. Organic pollutants diffuse from the gas phase to the activated carbon surface and are retained inside the adsorption pores. The purified gas is then drawn out by the fan and discharged through the exhaust stack.

Working Principle

Organic exhaust gas is drawn into the treatment system by an induced-draft fan and first passes through a pretreatment filter.

The pretreatment section removes dust, particles and other impurities from the gas stream. Without effective pretreatment, these contaminants may block the micropores of activated carbon, reduce adsorption efficiency and shorten the service life of the adsorbent.

After preliminary filtration, the relatively clean organic exhaust gas enters the activated carbon adsorption chamber.

Activated carbon has a large specific surface area, a highly developed microporous structure, low airflow resistance and strong adsorption capacity. At suitable operating temperatures, VOC molecules in the exhaust gas are captured inside the activated carbon pores.

The organic pollutants are separated from the clean air through physical adsorption. The purified gas is discharged into the atmosphere through the fan and exhaust stack after meeting the applicable emission requirements.

Process Flow

Process Stage	Description
1. Exhaust Gas Collection	Organic exhaust gas is collected through extraction hoods and transported through the duct system.
2. Pretreatment	Dust, particles, oil mist and other contaminants are removed before the gas enters the activated carbon bed.
3. Activated Carbon Adsorption	VOC molecules and odors are captured by the developed pore structure of activated carbon.
4. Purified Gas Discharge	The treated gas is discharged through the fan and exhaust stack after meeting the required emission standard.
5. Activated Carbon Replacement or Regeneration	When the activated carbon approaches saturation, it must be replaced or regenerated according to the operating conditions and system design.

Key Features

• High adsorption efficiency and large adsorption capacity
• Suitable for a wide range of organic exhaust gases and odors
• Large specific surface area and developed microporous structure
• Good selective adsorption performance
• Simple operation and reliable performance
• Convenient inspection and maintenance
• Activated carbon is widely available and relatively economical
• Suitable for integration with spray scrubbers, water curtains, UV or plasma systems
• Compact equipment structure with flexible installation
• Customizable according to airflow, VOC concentration and operating conditions

Applicable Industries

• Furniture and woodworking coating lines
• Paint and coating production
• Metal surface treatment
• Spray-painting and drying workshops
• Chemical manufacturing
• Pharmaceutical production
• Food processing
• Printed circuit board manufacturing
• Semiconductor production
• Electronics manufacturing
• Leather processing
• Latex product manufacturing
• Paper production
• Printing and packaging

Typical Treatable Pollutants

Pollutant Category	Typical Examples
Aromatic Compounds	Benzene, toluene, xylene and styrene
Alcohols	Ethanol, methanol, isopropanol and other alcohol vapors
Ketones	Acetone, methyl ethyl ketone and similar compounds
Aldehydes	Formaldehyde and other aldehyde compounds
Esters	Ethyl acetate, butyl acetate and other ester solvents
Petroleum Vapors	Gasoline vapors, naphtha and hydrocarbon solvents
Odorous Gases	Industrial odors and mixed organic emissions

Types of Activated Carbon

Honeycomb Activated Carbon

Honeycomb activated carbon has a large specific surface area, a highly developed microporous structure, high adsorption capacity and excellent surface activity. It is widely used in industrial air pollution control systems.

During treatment, contaminated exhaust gas passes through the square channels of the honeycomb activated carbon. The gas fully contacts the porous adsorption surface, allowing organic pollutants and odors to be captured.

Honeycomb activated carbon can be manufactured according to customer requirements. Common sizes include 50 × 50 × 100 mm and 100 × 100 × 100 mm.

Typical Pollutants Removed by Honeycomb Activated Carbon

• Nitrogen oxides
• Carbon tetrachloride
• Chlorine
• Benzene and xylene
• Acetone
• Ethanol and methanol
• Ether compounds
• Acetic acid and ester compounds
• Styrene
• Phosgene
• Industrial odors

Chemically impregnated honeycomb activated carbon can also be used for treating acid mist, alkaline mist, amines, mercaptans, sulfur compounds, hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, mercury and other special pollutants.

Honeycomb Activated Carbon Technical Parameters

Item	Typical Specification
Main Material	Activated carbon
Common Size	50 × 50 × 100 mm / 100 × 100 × 100 mm
Compressive Strength	>0.8 MPa
Recommended Operating Temperature	Below 400°C, subject to actual working conditions
Cell Density	100 cells/in² or 150 cells/in²
Empty-Bed Air Velocity	Approximately 1.2 m/s
Specific Surface Area	>700 m²/g
Appearance	Flat surface without visible cracks
Customization	Other specifications are available upon request

Honeycomb Activated Carbon Operating Notes

• Avoid excessively high operating temperatures because adsorption capacity decreases as temperature increases.
• Prevent high concentrations of dust, tar mist and oil mist from entering the activated carbon bed.
• Install a pretreatment filter when the exhaust gas contains significant particulate matter.
• Regularly inspect pressure loss and activated carbon saturation.
• Replace or regenerate the activated carbon according to actual adsorption performance.

Honeycomb activated carbon is commonly used for low-concentration, high-air-volume organic exhaust gas treatment. Its regular channel structure provides low airflow resistance, a compact adsorption bed and relatively low energy consumption.

Granular Activated Carbon

Granular activated carbon is available in shaped and irregular particle forms. It can be manufactured from coconut shells, fruit shells or coal through carbonization, activation and refining processes.

Granular activated carbon has a highly developed pore structure, strong adsorption performance, high mechanical strength, good regeneration capability and relatively low cost.

It is widely used in toxic gas purification, industrial exhaust gas treatment, industrial and municipal water treatment, solvent recovery, odor removal and other applications.

Coconut Shell Granular Activated Carbon

Coconut shell granular activated carbon is manufactured from high-quality coconut shells. It has a black granular appearance, developed micropores, strong adsorption performance, high strength and good durability.

It is commonly used for drinking water purification, purified water production, tap water treatment, beverage production, industrial water purification, decolorization, dechlorination, deodorization, drying and catalyst support.

Fruit Shell Granular Activated Carbon

Fruit shell granular activated carbon is manufactured from peach shells, apricot shells and other fruit stones. It has developed pores, good adsorption performance and economical operating characteristics.

It is mainly used for boiler water treatment, industrial water purification, municipal water treatment, beverage water treatment, industrial wastewater purification, decolorization and advanced treatment.

Coal-Based Granular Activated Carbon

Coal-based granular activated carbon is available in a wide range of shaped and irregular particle specifications.

Irregular coal-based activated carbon is mainly used for industrial water and wastewater purification, decolorization and contaminant removal.

Shaped coal-based activated carbon is commonly used for gas purification, wastewater treatment, desulfurization, denitrification, solvent recovery, nitrogen generation, air separation equipment and spray-painting workshop exhaust treatment.

Comparison of Activated Carbon Types

Activated Carbon Type	Main Characteristics	Typical Applications
Honeycomb Activated Carbon	Low airflow resistance, regular channels, compact adsorption bed and suitable for high-air-volume treatment	Industrial VOCs, odors, coating exhaust gas and mixed organic emissions
Coconut Shell Granular Activated Carbon	Developed micropores, high adsorption capacity and good mechanical strength	Water purification, solvent adsorption, deodorization and high-purity treatment
Fruit Shell Granular Activated Carbon	Good adsorption performance, economical and suitable for water treatment	Industrial water, municipal water, beverage water and wastewater treatment
Coal-Based Granular Activated Carbon	Wide specification range, economical and suitable for gas and water purification	Industrial exhaust gas, wastewater, solvent recovery and desulfurization

Activated Carbon Selection Considerations

• Type and concentration of organic pollutants
• Exhaust gas airflow and temperature
• Humidity and moisture content
• Dust, oil mist and particulate concentration
• Required adsorption efficiency
• Acceptable pressure loss
• Activated carbon replacement or regeneration method
• Available equipment installation space
• Local emission requirements

Why Choose ES Air EHW Series?

• Customized design according to exhaust gas composition and airflow
• Suitable for multiple VOCs and odor pollutants
• Flexible selection of honeycomb or granular activated carbon
• Can be integrated with spray, UV, plasma and filtration systems
• Compact structure and convenient maintenance
• Reliable operation for industrial exhaust gas polishing
• Suitable for indoor or outdoor installation
• Engineering support for pretreatment and adsorption media selection

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an activated carbon adsorption tower?

An activated carbon adsorption tower is an industrial air pollution control device that uses porous activated carbon to capture VOCs, odors and other organic pollutants from contaminated exhaust gas.

What exhaust gases can the EHW series treat?

The EHW series can be used for exhaust gases containing benzene compounds, alcohols, ketones, aldehydes, esters, gasoline vapors and mixed industrial odors.

Why is pretreatment important?

Dust, oil mist and particles may block the micropores of activated carbon and reduce adsorption efficiency. Pretreatment protects the adsorption bed and extends its service life.

What is the difference between honeycomb and granular activated carbon?

Honeycomb activated carbon has regular channels and relatively low airflow resistance, making it suitable for high-air-volume treatment. Granular activated carbon provides flexible adsorption performance and is available in different raw materials and particle forms.

How often should activated carbon be replaced?

The replacement cycle depends on pollutant type, concentration, airflow, operating time, temperature, humidity and activated carbon capacity. Regular monitoring is required to determine the appropriate replacement schedule.

Can the system be used for high-dust exhaust gas?

Yes, but effective pretreatment must be installed before the adsorption tower. Filters, spray scrubbers, water curtains or other devices may be required.

Can ES Air customize the adsorption tower?

Yes. ES Air can design the adsorption tower according to airflow, VOC concentration, pollutant composition, temperature, humidity, pressure loss, installation space and emission requirements.

Customized Activated Carbon Adsorption Solutions

ES Air provides activated carbon adsorption towers and integrated VOC treatment systems for industrial exhaust gas and odor-control applications.

System selection should be based on exhaust gas composition, airflow, concentration, temperature, humidity, dust content and required treatment efficiency.

Contact ES Air for working-condition evaluation, activated carbon selection, process design and customized equipment solutions.

Brief: The ES Air EHW Series Activated Carbon Adsorption Tower is designed for industrial VOC and odor treatment. It uses honeycomb or granular activated carbon to adsorb benzene compounds, alcohols, ketones, aldehydes, esters, gasoline vapors and mixed organic pollutants. The system can be integrated with filtration, spray scrubbers, UV or plasma treatment for coating, chemical, electronics, printing, food processing, leather and other industrial applications.