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Applications / Food & Pharmaceutical
Food & Pharmaceutical Activated Carbon
Food decolorization or pharma refining? Iron and ash are the safety limits.
Selection Logic
| Scenario | Requirement | Recommended | Key Spec |
|---|---|---|---|
| Food decolorization (MSG / oil / sugar liquor) | Strong decolorizing, no impurities | Food-grade decolorizing carbon | Methylene blue ≥12, total iron ≤0.15 |
| Pharma refining / oral medicinal carbon | Very low iron, high purity | Pharma-grade carbon | Total iron ≤0.02, sulfate ash ≤7 |
| Beverage / condiment decolorizing | Decolorizing + odor removal | Food-grade carbon | Neutral pH, low ash |
Scenario Guide
Food Decolorization → Food-Grade Carbon
For MSG, oil and sugar-liquor decolorization, decolorizing power must be strong (methylene blue ≥12), while total iron ≤0.10–0.15% to avoid contaminating the food.
Pharma Refining → Pharma-Grade Carbon
For pharmaceutical refining and oral medicinal carbon, the total-iron requirement is stricter (≤0.02) and sulfate ash ≤7% — purity first.
Key Parameters
◆
Methylene Blue
Decolorizing power; ≥12 ml is the premium food grade.
◆
Total Iron
The safety limit: food ≤0.10–0.15%, pharma ≤0.02%.
◆
Sulfate Ash
Ash indicator; ≤7% guarantees purity.
◆
pH
4.5–7.5 by use; affects product taste and stability.
Quick Selection Chart
| Your Situation | Recommended | Product |
|---|---|---|
| MSG / oil / sugar-liquor decolorization | Food & pharma carbon (methylene blue ≥12, iron ≤0.15) | Food & Pharmaceutical Activated Carbon |
| Beverage / condiment decolorizing, cost-first | Wood powdered carbon (methylene blue ≥180, iron ≤0.1) | Wood Powdered Activated Carbon |
| Pharma refining / oral medicinal | Pharma-grade carbon (iron ≤0.02, custom) | Food & Pharmaceutical Activated Carbon |
| Beverage / condiment decolorizing | Food-grade carbon (neutral pH) | Food & Pharmaceutical Activated Carbon |
| Premium beverage / sugar decolorization | Coconut powdered carbon (low ash ≤5%) | Coconut Shell Powdered Activated Carbon |
FAQ
What makes carbon safe for food and pharma use?
Low total iron (food ≤0.10–0.15%, pharma ≤0.02%) and low sulfate ash (≤7%) prevent contamination; strong decolorizing power (methylene blue ≥12) is the performance requirement.
What is the difference between food-grade and pharma-grade carbon?
The strictness of the purity limits — pharma grade demands very low iron (≤0.02%) and sulfate ash ≤7%, while food grade has more relaxed but still controlled limits.
Which form is used for decolorization?
Powdered carbon (200/325 mesh) gives fast contact for batch decolorizing of edible oil, sugar liquor and MSG; granular is used where the process allows continuous contact.
How is decolorizing power measured?
By methylene blue adsorption — ≥12 ml is the premium food-grade level; wood-powdered grades reach higher values on the same test for strong decolorizing duty.
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