Skip to content

How to Manufacture Activated Carbon From Saw Dust

Activated carbon from sawdust manufacturing projects can be initiated on a small-scale basis with substantial capital investment. Carbon is probably the most widely available mineral in nature. Activated carbon, active carbon, or active charcoal is usually applied to amorphous carbons processing as it has higher absorption capacities than wood or animal charcoal.

Industrial activated carbon from sawdust generally comes in the form of pellets, granules, or fine powder. industrial applications are available in the market under different trade names. At present, in India, there are about 30 to 35 units of which four units are in the state of Gujarat.

There exists a very good scope for this product and it can be explored smartly. It has also a huge demand in the export market for high-quality activated carbon. There is certainly a wide scope for a new entrepreneur can enter this project.

Activated carbon from sawdust is generally prepared by Zinc Chloride activation in different activation conditions. It is one of the most important microporous adsorbents due to its
tremendous absorptive capacity. It has an affinity for a variety of dissolved organics and the ability
to be custom-tailored to suit the specific application.

Read: Top Small Manufacturing Business Ideas

It is of particular interest to select sawdust as the raw material to make activated carbon instead of other abundant sources such as clay minerals, rice husks, nutshells, etc.

Activated Carbon From Saw Dust Manufacturing Process

The waste sawdust was collected from a local sawmill. The sawdust was sieved in order to obtain a desirable size fraction (0.5 and 1mm). Then, the sieved sawdust was washed with distilled water to remove any residues or impurities such as ash and dust.

Subsequently, it was dried in an oven for 12 hours at 80o° C. After the sawdust was dry, the material was pyrolyzed in a fluidized bed furnace at different temperature ranges. The pyrolysis process was undergone at temperatures 300, 400, and 500° C for half an hour.

Then, the char produced was discharged from the first cyclone of the fluidized bed furnace. This fast pyrolysis method produced a variety of char at different temperatures.

Read: How to Register a Company/ Startup

Activation of the char was done by using a steam average flow rate of 300 cc/min at temperature 800° C in a muffle furnace for 1 and 2 hours. The activated carbon was then ground and dried in an oven at 100°C for overnight.

Activated Carbon From Saw Dust Project Cost:

We provide you with an estimated cost of producing activated carbon from sawdust with a production capacity of 2 Tons/ Day.

Plant Capacity: 2.0 Ton/DayPlant & Machinery: Rs. 30 Lakhs
Working capital: Rs. 30 Lakhs T.C.I: Rs. 120 Lakhs
Return: 35.00%Break Even: 46.23%

It is must be mentioned here that the actual cost of the project may deviate on a change of any of the assumptions.

About Next What Business Research Team

The Editorial Staffs at NextWhatBusiness is a team of Business Consultants with years of experience in small and medium-scale manufacturing and service-based businesses.