Granular vs. Powdered Activated Carbon: Which One is Right for Your Application?
- Bygen
- Sep 23
- 4 min read
Activated carbon is a highly porous material with a large internal surface area, making it exceptionally effective at adsorbing a wide range of contaminants, impurities, and odours. It’s widely used in water treatment, industrial processing, and chemical recovery. The performance of activated carbon, however, depends on the format selected - either granular activated carbon (GAC) or powdered activated carbon (PAC).
GAC and PAC differ significantly in both structure and application. In water treatment, PAC is much finer, with around 90% of particles passing through a 200-mesh sieve (~75 μm), and approximately 65% passing through a 325-mesh sieve (~44 μm), depending on the grade.PAC typically has a bulk density ranging from 0.25 to 0.60 g/cm³, depending on the raw material and activation process, giving it a high surface area ideal for rapid adsorption.
What is Granular Activated Carbon and its Application?
Granular activated carbon (GAC), also known as granular activated carbon, is composed of larger carbon particles that offer lower surface area compared to PAC but provide superior mechanical strength and extended service life. With particle sizes typically ranging from 0.2 to 5 mm, GAC is well-suited for packed bed filters and flow-through systems. Its ability to endure high-pressure conditions makes it an excellent choice for large-scale water and air purification applications.
Common Applications:
Water and Air Purification: GAC is frequently used in domestic water filters, such as Brita-style systems, and whole-house filtering devices to minimise chlorine, taste, and odour. It is also utilised in HVAC systems to purify the air.
Industrial Applications: GAC is used in industries for chemical purification, gas adsorption, and VOC management in factories and chemical plants, where continuous flow systems benefit from its durability.
What is Powdered Activated Carbon (PAC)?
PAC consists of fine carbon particles, typically smaller than 75 microns in diameter, allowing for rapid dispersion and high adsorption efficiency. Known for its high surface area, PAC enables fast and efficient adsorption of contaminants.
PAC offers a very high surface area, enabling fast and effective adsorption of dissolved organic molecules. PAC is commonly made from wood or coal, with wood-based PAC especially suited for colour and odour removal in food, beverage, and pharmaceutical applications.
Common Applications:
Batch Treatment Systems: PAC is widely utilised in municipal water treatment facilities to eliminate contaminants such as pesticides, as well as substances responsible for unpleasant tastes and odours.
Emergency Response: During events like chemical spills or algal blooms, PAC can be quickly applied to absorb hazardous compounds and prevent their spread within the water supply.
Key Factors to Consider When Choosing Between GAC & PAC
Factors | Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) | Powdered Activated Carbon (PAC) |
Particle Size | 0.2 to 5 mm | Typically< 75 µm (200 mesh), many grades have~ 65%~44 µm ( 325 mesh) |
Reusability & Lifespan | It can be regenerated and reused through thermal reactivation, making it cost-effective over time. | Single-use, typically removed by filtration or sedimentation |
Best For | Long-term treatment of organic compounds, odours, VOCs, and gas-phase streams | Fast-response, low-volume treatment: taste, odour, colour, microcontaminants |
Industries | Water utilities, air treatment, Industrial processing, gold recovery | Municipal water, food & beverage. Pharma, emergency treatment |
Contaminant Type | VOCs, THMs, chlorine byproducts, odours, organics | Pesticides, algal toxins, disinfection byproducts (DBPs), taste/odour compounds |
System Compatibility | Packed bed adsorbers, filter vessels, vapour scrubbers | Dosing into clarifiers, tanks, or inline injection systems |
Cost & Maintenance
| Higher capital cost (filter vessels, possible regeneration); moderate long-term operating costs | Lower upfront cost, higher operating cost due to frequent replacement and disposal |
Sustainability | Often regenerable, lower lifecycle waste, lower emissions if using renewable feedstocks (e.g. Bygen LTA) | Higher waste volume, non-regenerable, sustainability depends on sourcing and disposal |
Applications and Recommendations
Activated carbon by Bygen helps to purify potable water by adsorbing organic contaminants, chlorine, and taste–odour compounds. This purification helps municipalities meet stringent water quality standards efficiently.
Removes harmful organic compounds and micropollutants from industrial effluent. The treatment helps to reduce the toxic load and improve microbial performance in biological treatment stages.
Targets PFAS, binding them tightly to reduce water and soil contamination. It is effective for PFAS removal in industrial sites, airports, fire training areas and legacy AFFF contamination..
Strips unwanted pigments and off‑flavours from fruit juices, syrups, wines, and more. This ensures product clarity and preserves flavour profiles without chemical residues.
Filters volatile organic compounds (VOCs), odours, and gaseous pollutants from industrial and lab emissions. Granular beds provide reliable performance with low pressure drop and long service life.
Mixing of activated carbon captures dissolved gold from mining process streams and cyanide solutions. Enables efficient, large-scale extraction with minimal environmental footprint.
Sustainability Matters
One key difference is environmental impact. Granular activated carbon (GAC) can often be regenerated through thermal reactivation, reducing waste and lifecycle costs. Powdered activated carbon (PAC), in contrast, is typically single-use and must be disposed of after application.
At Bygen, we go a step further; our activated carbon is made from renewable agricultural by-products using our patented Low Temperature Activation (LTA) process, offering high performance with a dramatically smaller carbon footprint.
Conclusion
At Bygen, we do more than supply activated carbon- we work towards greener purification solutions. Whether you need GAC or PAC, our team combines deep technical expertise with low-emission manufacturing to deliver systems that meet performance needs and support environmental responsibility.
