Frequently Asked Questions.

01 · Basics

What is activated carbon and what is it used for?

Activated carbon is a porous carbon material with an extremely high internal surface area. Its pores capture organic compounds, colour and odour molecules, chlorine and similar contaminants from water and air by adsorption. Main applications include water treatment, gas treatment, food and oil refining, cosmetics and sugar refining.

What is the advantage of producing activated carbon from hazelnut shells?

Hazelnut shell is a dense biomass with low ash content, high carbon yield and a balanced pore distribution. Akarbon uses 100% locally sourced hazelnut shells from Türkiye's hazelnut-growing region — see Hazelnut Shell Activated Carbon for details.

What is the difference between granular (GAC) and powdered (PAC) activated carbon?

Granular activated carbon (GAC) consists of grains sized 0-10 mm; it is used in filter beds and continuous-flow systems. Powdered activated carbon (PAC) is milled below 150 microns; it is dosed directly and preferred in batch processes.

What is the iodine number and why does it matter?

The iodine number indicates how many milligrams of iodine one gram of activated carbon can adsorb (mg/g) — the standard indicator of micropore capacity. The AKARBON series offers minimum iodine numbers of 800, 900 and 1000 mg/g, with typical values of 850, 911 and 1025 mg/g. See the Technical Data Sheets for all values.

02 · Product Selection

How do I choose between AKARBON 800, 900 and 1000?

Selection depends on the target adsorption capacity. AKARBON 800 is a balanced choice for general water treatment; AKARBON 900 provides higher capacity for colour and organic matter removal; AKARBON 1000 is for the highest adsorption and decolourisation demands. All three grades are produced from 100% hazelnut shell by chemical-free steam activation, with max. 3% ash.

Which applications use activated carbon?

Drinking and waste water treatment, gas and air treatment, food and oil refining, cosmetic formulations, cat litter and sugar refining. The right form and activity grade depend on contact time and the target contaminant — each area is covered on the Applications page.

03 · Production & Quality

How does indirect heating technology affect product quality?

In the indirectly heated stainless steel kiln, flame and combustion gases never contact the product; heat is transferred through the steel wall. With no brick lining, mineral contamination sources such as alumina, silica and calcium are eliminated from the start. The system is registered under Turkish Patent 2012/02871 B — see Technology.

What is your production capacity?

Our facility is in Cumayeri, Düzce, Türkiye, with a monthly capacity of 100 tonnes. Founded in 2011, Akarbon is the first and only producer of hazelnut-shell activated carbon in Türkiye — read more on the About page.