Operational Flexibility: Custom Food Grade Reactivation of Spent Granular Activated Carbon for the Cane Sugar Industry

摘要

Activated carbon is a widely used solution for decolorization and purification of cane sugar. Many cane sugar refining plants reactivate their own spent carbon on-site in multi hearth furnaces or kilns. In the past few years, there has become available regional off site food grade carbon reactivation services, called Custom Food Grade Reactivation centers, that offer a continuing or 'as needed' alternative. A specific customer and location, can have their spent carbon reactivated in a food grade reactivation furnace/kiln, with their spent and reactivated carbons segregated, custom reactivated, and returned to the site as 100% reactivated carbon or with the addition of virgin carbon make-up. The whole process from field services/carbon technicians, transportation, reactivation, screening and carbon return, follows food grade protocols and is traceable. This option can be used for total plant carbon reactivation or as an option to aid during site furnace maintenance shutdowns/repairs or should an imbalance occur in spent vs react carbon inventories.