Use of Activated Carbon in the Food and Beverage Industry

Activated carbon has been used in different industries for various purposes. It is also used for residential purposes for cleaning drinking water. Other main applications are in air and gas purification, the pharmaceutical industry, the gold recovery process, the automotive industry, the biogas plant, the food and beverage industry, and the automotive industry.

Activated carbon is widely used in the food and beverage industry to improve the flavor and aroma of food. Products made from activated carbons are used in various stages of food production from the beginning, to process and in the finished goods. Various manufacturers of activated carbon in India provide activated carbon products as per the requirements and specifications of the application.

Products made from activated carbon are used in the manufacturing of starch-based sweeteners like maltose, glucose, dextrose, and fructose. Odor and color are removed from these products to maintain the best quality and meet the requirement of manufacturing with the help of activated carbons.

Activated carbon in Food Industry

Fat and Edible Oil Cleansing

Activated carbon can help with separating Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons, Polychlorinated Biphenyls, Dioxins, and other pollutants from food products. Along with effectiveness, this method is also cost-effective. Along with refining the thing, activated carbon is also used to detoxify the products.

Activated Carbon as Flavoring Agent

Many items used in household cooking need to refine and decolorize, activated carbon is widely used for this purpose. Some of the application of activated carbon includes the purification of flavoring items like Hydrolyzed vegetable proteins and monosodium glutamate to the highest level of standard.

Activated Carbon in the Beverage Industry

Sugar is widely used in the beverage industry. Purification of sugar syrups is mandatory for its application. Color for sugar solution can be easily removed with the help of activated carbon. They are frequently used to improve the odor of the sugar syrup or sugar solution before the final use in alcoholic and soft drinks.

The odor of the drinks needs to be optimum in order to make them enjoyable for the customers. There are many impurities in beverages that affect their smell, appearance, and flavor. Activated carbon is used widely to remove these impurities. The following products are purified using activated carbons.

Fruit Juice

There are varieties of impurities found in the fruit juice depending on the type of raw materials used in the process. This is also not dependent on the main products i.e. fruit used. Different pesticides and fungicides like mycotoxin patulin are also present in the initial stage of the manufacturing of beverage products. The use of activated carbon can be effective in the removal of these impurities from beverages and meet the highest standards of quality.

Wine and Beer

Activated carbon is required to make the white and red wine look perfect. It is also used to improve the taste of beer and wine. The wine is purified with the use of activated carbon before the storage process. They are treated at regular intervals with proper product quality.

Activated Carbon for Water Treatment

There is much contamination in the water like chlorine, ozone, and chloramines. These inhibit the water during microbiological activities. All these impurities, infections, and organic contaminants are effectively removed with the use of activated carbon.

Other Applications of Activated Carbons

Activated carbon has a wide range of applications in commercial as well as residential uses. Filtration of amino acids, production of synthetic fibers, purification of biodiesel, and manufacturing of synthetic fibers widely use activated carbon for the effective process. Removing color from rum, turbidity prevention, and congener are some other applications.

There are various types of activated carbon used for different applications. Different types of activated carbon include acid-washed activated carbon, granular activated carbon (GAC), and unwashed activated carbon. These are the different types used for different applications.

Author Bio:- Jay patel is marketing manager at JMB Chemicals a manufacturer of activated carbons in India. He likes to write on manufacturing and chemical processes. He is an expert in the activated carbon manufacturing process.