Coconut Shell Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) - 8x30 & 12x40 Mesh

Name: Coconut Shell Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) - 8x30 & 12x40 Mesh
Brand: Carbon Activated Corporation
SKU: coconut-shell-granular-activated-carbon

$212⁹⁸

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Overview

Coconut Shell Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) is an industrial adsorption media produced from coconut-shell feedstock and used for purification of water, beverages, process liquids and other compatible industrial streams. Its generally micropore-rich structure and high mechanical durability make coconut-shell carbon a common starting point for dechlorination, taste-and-odor control, selected VOC adsorption and treatment of many smaller dissolved organic compounds.

Sorbents Direct offers coconut-shell GAC in 8×30 mesh and 12×40 mesh. The appropriate mesh depends on required mass-transfer rate, allowable pressure drop, vessel design, flow rate, contact time and treatment objective.

For broader guidance on pore structure, base material, iodine number, EBCT and activated-carbon selection, see our Activated Carbon Practical Guide or browse the full Activated Carbon collection .

Carbon type: Coconut-shell granular activated carbon

Available mesh sizes: 8×30 and 12×40

Available packaging: 27.5 lb (12.47 kg) bags and 1,100 lb (approximately 499 kg) supersacks

Common uses: Water treatment, dechlorination, beverage and process-water polishing, taste-and-odor control and selected dissolved-organic adsorption

Freight: Parcel, pallet or LTL shipping based on package size and quantity

Primary applications

Municipal & industrial water treatment: Reduction of free chlorine, taste-and-odor compounds and selected dissolved organics using an appropriately qualified carbon grade.
Drinking-water treatment: Dechlorination, taste-and-odor control and organic-contaminant reduction when the exact carbon grade meets the required certification and quality requirements.
Beverage & brewing water: Dechlorination and sensory polishing of incoming process water using a carbon grade qualified for the application.
Food & ingredient processing: Purification of compatible process liquids where the supplied carbon meets the required purity and regulatory standards.
Reverse-osmosis pretreatment: Reduction of free chlorine upstream of chlorine-sensitive membranes when the carbon system is designed around the membrane feed-water requirement.
Process-water polishing: Adsorption of selected organic contaminants before reuse, discharge or downstream processing.
Industrial liquid purification: Guard beds, polishing vessels and compatible liquid-phase treatment systems.
Pilot & validation systems: Small-scale media evaluation before full vessel loading or permanent process conversion.

Why choose coconut-shell activated carbon?

Micropore-rich pore structure: Coconut-shell carbon commonly develops significant microporosity, making it a useful starting point for many smaller adsorbates.
High mechanical durability: Coconut-shell GAC is commonly valued for strong granule integrity and resistance to attrition during handling and service.
Liquid-phase versatility: Widely used in fixed beds, pressure vessels, polishing filters and process-water systems.
Multiple particle sizes: 8×30 and 12×40 mesh provide different balances of mass transfer, hydraulic performance and pressure drop.
Scalable packaging: Available for pilot use, maintenance additions and production-scale vessel changeouts.
Coconut-shell feedstock: Produced from a renewable agricultural byproduct, although process performance should still drive grade selection.

Actual adsorption capacity, hardness, ash, moisture, iodine number, pore distribution, extractables and regulatory suitability vary by exact grade. Confirm current technical documentation before final qualification.

Coconut-shell carbon is not automatically the “best” activated carbon.

Coconut-shell GAC generally emphasizes microporosity and mechanical hardness, while coal-based carbon often provides a broader pore distribution. Those are different adsorption profiles—not quality levels. Target-molecule size, process chemistry, contact time, particle size and system hydraulics should determine the starting grade.

Compare the two directly: Coal-Based vs. Coconut-Shell GAC →

Choose the appropriate mesh size

Selection factor	8×30 mesh	12×40 mesh
Granule size	Coarser	Finer
Pressure-drop tendency	Generally lower at comparable operating conditions	Generally higher at comparable operating conditions
Mass-transfer tendency	Longer relative diffusion path	Shorter diffusion path can support faster mass transfer
Hydraulic emphasis	Often evaluated where lower flow resistance or larger-vessel hydraulics are priorities	Often evaluated where faster mass transfer is worth additional pressure-drop potential
Common starting fit	Larger industrial vessels, deeper beds and systems emphasizing hydraulic performance	Polishing vessels, smaller systems and applications emphasizing faster adsorption kinetics
Primary tradeoff	Lower resistance to flow with a longer relative diffusion path	Faster relative mass transfer with greater resistance-to-flow potential

These are general particle-size tendencies rather than universal design rules. Final performance depends on vessel geometry, loading rate, bed depth, backwash conditions, water chemistry, contaminant concentration and the exact carbon grade.

8×30 vs. 12×40 is not a performance ranking.

Finer carbon can increase mass-transfer rate, but it also generally increases pressure drop. The correct mesh is the one that provides the required adsorption behavior while remaining compatible with vessel internals, backwash design, media retention and allowable differential pressure.

What can coconut-shell GAC reduce?

Contaminant or treatment objective	General suitability	Important considerations
Free chlorine	Common activated-carbon application	Performance depends on flow, contact time, influent concentration, pH, temperature and carbon condition
Taste & odor compounds	Common polishing application	Effectiveness varies by compound and competitive organic loading
Volatile organic compounds	Selected VOCs can be adsorbed	Confirm grade-specific adsorption data for the actual target compound and operating conditions
Dissolved organic compounds	Suitable for many compatible smaller organics	Pore-size compatibility and background organic matter influence useful adsorption capacity
Color-producing organics	May provide useful reduction	Larger color bodies may favor a different pore structure; representative testing is recommended
Chloramine	Highly grade dependent	Catalytic activated carbon may be preferred for demanding chloramine applications
PFAS	Highly grade, compound and system dependent	Use a carbon specifically evaluated for the target PFAS profile, water chemistry and treatment design
Dissolved metals & inorganic salts	Generally not the primary function of standard GAC	Specialty adsorbents or additional treatment processes may be required

Important: Activated carbon is not equally effective for every contaminant. Confirm treatment suitability using grade-specific manufacturer data, representative testing, process history or qualified system design.

Coconut-shell vs. coal-based GAC

Selection factor	Coconut-shell GAC	Coal-based GAC
General pore tendency	Typically emphasizes microporosity	Often provides a broader micropore / mesopore distribution
Hardness tendency	Often comparatively high	Grade dependent
Common starting emphasis	Smaller adsorbates, dechlorination and applications benefiting from strong microporosity and mechanical durability	Broader organic profiles and general-purpose industrial water treatment
Common applications	Drinking water, beverage and process water, dechlorination and selected dissolved-organic treatment	Municipal water, wastewater polishing, process water and broader industrial liquid purification
Final grade selection	Target contaminant, pore distribution, particle size, complete specification and process conditions	Target contaminant, pore distribution, particle size, complete specification and process conditions

Neither carbon source is universally better. Actual pore structure and performance vary by grade. The appropriate carbon depends on target contaminants, liquid chemistry, contact time, vessel design, qualification requirements and treatment economics.

Compare Coal-Based Granular Activated Carbon →

How to read carbon activity specifications

Activated carbon should be evaluated using the complete specification rather than selected by iodine number or surface area alone. Different analytical tests describe different aspects of the carbon's pore structure, activity, purity and mechanical performance.

Specification	What it helps describe
Iodine number	Indicator associated with micropore development and adsorption of relatively small molecules
BET surface area	Estimated accessible internal surface area, but not the full pore-size distribution
Hardness	Resistance to attrition during handling, backwashing and service
Ash	Inorganic residue content that can matter in sensitive applications
Moisture	Water contained in the supplied carbon and its contribution to shipping weight
Particle size	Influences mass transfer, pressure drop, media retention and backwashing

Higher iodine number does not automatically mean better coconut carbon.

Coconut-shell carbons often have high iodine numbers because of their micropore development, but iodine number still represents only part of the pore structure. A high-iodine carbon may be poorly matched to a larger adsorbate or unsuitable hydraulic system. Evaluate iodine number together with pore distribution, particle size, hardness, ash and actual treatment data.

Typical product characteristics

Product type	Coconut-shell granular activated carbon
Available particle sizes	8×30 mesh and 12×40 mesh
Physical form	Black granular adsorption media
Primary phase	Liquid-phase treatment
Common treatment functions	Dechlorination, taste-and-odor control, selected VOC adsorption, dissolved-organic reduction and process-liquid polishing
Feedstock	Coconut shell
Available packaging	27.5 lb bags and 1,100 lb supersacks

Technical-data note: Sorbents Direct does not currently display a grade-specific TDS, SDS or COA for this general listing. Iodine number, hardness, ash, moisture, apparent density, pH, surface area, pore volume, certification status and other technical properties should be confirmed for the exact supplied grade before qualification or process design.

Packaging & availability

Package size	Typical use
27.5 lb (12.47 kg) bag	Pilot systems, small vessels, maintenance additions, sampling and incremental media replacement
1,100 lb (approximately 499 kg) supersack	Production vessels, larger bed changeouts, recurring industrial requirements and bulk handling systems

Mesh options: 8×30 and 12×40
Bag orders: Suitable for smaller systems, pilot trials and manual vessel loading
Supersack orders: Suitable for bulk handling and production-scale media requirements
Freight: Parcel, pallet or LTL service based on package size, quantity and destination
Lead time: Confirmed at quotation or order placement
Volume purchasing: Contact Sorbents Direct for recurring requirements, pallet quantities or delivered bulk pricing

System design & sizing guidance

Activated-carbon performance depends on more than total media weight. System design should account for contaminant type, influent concentration, required effluent quality, flow rate, vessel dimensions, bed depth, empty-bed contact time, pressure drop, competing organics, temperature and replacement strategy.

Flow rate: Influences hydraulic loading, available contact time and pressure drop.
Empty-bed contact time: Provides a useful design variable for comparing carbon-bed volume with process flow. Appropriate EBCT depends on the contaminant and treatment objective.
Bed depth: Adequate bed depth helps establish a useful mass-transfer zone and delay breakthrough.
Influent concentration: Higher contaminant loading generally consumes available adsorption capacity more quickly.
Competing contaminants: Natural organic matter and other adsorbates can compete for available carbon capacity.
Particle size: Finer carbon can improve mass transfer but generally increases resistance to flow.
Backwashing & commissioning: Proper startup can remove fines, settle the media and establish a stable hydraulic baseline.

For a deeper explanation of EBCT, pore structure and carbon-bed design, see the Activated Carbon Practical Guide .

Share your flow rate, vessel dimensions, target contaminant, influent concentration and desired effluent specification through our contact page for grade-selection and preliminary sizing assistance.

Installation & startup considerations

Inspect the vessel, distributors, underdrain, screens and retention components before loading.
Confirm that the selected mesh is compatible with the vessel internals.
Load carbon using methods that minimize breakage and airborne dust.
Allow sufficient freeboard where backwashing is part of the process design.
Flush or backwash new carbon where required to remove transport fines and settle the media bed.
Do not place a critical system into service until startup water or process liquid meets the required quality specification.
Record initial differential pressure and treated-stream quality to establish a baseline for future operation.

Startup procedures should follow the vessel manufacturer's instructions, grade-specific carbon documentation and the requirements of the actual treatment process.

Handling & storage

Store unused activated carbon in a clean, dry and protected area.
Keep bags and supersacks closed until use.
Protect the material from contamination by oils, solvents, chemicals and foreign material.
Minimize dust generation during unloading, transfer and vessel filling.
Use suitable ventilation and personal protective equipment as specified by the current SDS.
Wet activated carbon can reduce oxygen in enclosed spaces; follow applicable confined-space procedures around vessels and carbon beds.
Keep activated carbon away from strong oxidizers and other incompatible materials identified in the SDS.
Handle spent carbon according to the compounds it has adsorbed and applicable environmental and waste requirements.

Important: The hazards and disposal classification of spent activated carbon depend on what the carbon has adsorbed. Review current product documentation and site-specific procedures before use, removal, storage, transport, reactivation or disposal.

Why buy from Sorbents Direct?

Activated-carbon selection involves more than choosing a bag size. Sorbents Direct helps industrial buyers compare carbon source, mesh, packaging, freight, documentation and process requirements before purchase.

Transparent online pricing on qualifying package sizes and variants
Small and bulk formats for trials, maintenance and production-scale beds
Live freight quotes at checkout for eligible shipments
Manufacturer documentation including SDS, TDS and COA when available
Technical selection support based on target contaminants, flow, bed geometry and pressure-drop requirements
Bulk purchasing assistance for recurring industrial requirements
Grade-comparison support when replacing an existing coconut-shell or coal-based carbon

Need another activated-carbon form or base material?

Browse the Activated Carbon collection for coconut-shell and coal-based GAC, powdered activated carbon, pelletized carbon and other industrial grades.

For larger recurring requirements, see Bulk Industrial Adsorbents & Filtration Media Supplier .

Documentation & quality support

Available documentation may include:

Safety Data Sheet (SDS)
Technical Data Sheet (TDS)
Certificate of Analysis for the supplied production lot, when available
Particle-size and packaging information
Food, water or regulatory documentation where applicable to the exact grade
Freight and handling information

Specific certifications or compliance claims should not be assumed for this general listing. When NSF/ANSI, food-processing, drinking-water, acid-washed, low-ash or another qualification requirement applies, identify it before ordering so the appropriate grade can be confirmed.

Visit our Documentation Center or contact Sorbents Direct to request current documentation for the required mesh, grade and package size.

Need help choosing the right activated carbon?

The appropriate activated carbon depends on the target contaminant, liquid chemistry, flow rate, required contact time, vessel configuration, pressure-drop limit, regulatory requirements and replacement strategy. Sorbents Direct can help compare coconut-shell, coal-based, powdered, pelletized and specialty activated-carbon options for controlled evaluation.

Questions & answers

What is coconut-shell granular activated carbon?

Coconut-shell GAC is granular activated carbon manufactured from coconut shells that have been carbonized and activated to develop an internal pore structure. It is commonly used in compatible water and liquid-treatment systems for dechlorination, taste-and-odor control and selected organic-compound adsorption.

Why is coconut shell used to make activated carbon?

Proper activation of coconut shell commonly produces carbon with strong micropore development and high mechanical hardness. These characteristics can be useful for smaller adsorbates and repeated hydraulic service, but they do not make coconut carbon universally superior to other carbon bases.

What is the difference between 8×30 and 12×40 mesh?

8×30 is coarser and generally produces lower pressure drop under comparable conditions. 12×40 is finer and can provide faster relative mass transfer, but generally creates greater resistance to flow.

Which mesh is better for water treatment?

Neither mesh is universally better. Selection depends on vessel geometry, flow, bed depth, media retention, backwash design, required mass transfer and allowable differential pressure.

What is the difference between coconut-shell and coal-based activated carbon?

Coconut-shell carbon generally emphasizes microporosity and high hardness, while coal-based carbon often provides a broader pore distribution. The better starting point depends on the target contaminant and the treatment system rather than the feedstock name alone.

Compare Coal-Based GAC →

Does a higher iodine number mean better coconut-shell carbon?

No. Iodine number is useful for characterizing micropore development but does not describe the complete pore distribution or predict performance against every contaminant. Evaluate the entire grade specification and the actual treatment conditions.

Does coconut-shell carbon remove chlorine?

Coconut-shell GAC is commonly used for free-chlorine reduction. Actual performance depends on chlorine concentration, contact time, flow, pH, temperature, water chemistry and carbon condition.

Does coconut-shell carbon remove chloramine?

Standard coconut GAC may reduce chloramine, but catalytic activated carbon is often preferred for demanding chloramine-removal requirements. Confirm the target, water chemistry and exact grade before selection.

Can this carbon be used for drinking water or beverages?

Coconut-shell GAC is widely used in these industries, but the exact supplied grade must meet the required purity, certification and regulatory standards. Request the applicable documentation before ordering.

Is this carbon acid washed?

This general listing does not guarantee acid-washed processing. If acid-washed carbon is required, specify that requirement before quotation so the exact product and manufacturer documentation can be confirmed.

Does coconut-shell GAC remove PFAS?

Certain GAC grades are used in PFAS treatment, but performance varies significantly with PFAS chemistry, carbon grade, water composition, competing organic matter and bed design. Use a carbon and treatment system specifically evaluated for the target PFAS profile.

How much activated carbon do I need?

Required media quantity depends on vessel volume, bed depth, carbon density, flow, required contact time and contaminant loading. Provide the vessel and operating information for preliminary grade and quantity review.

What documentation is available?

SDS, TDS and lot-specific COA documentation may be available for the exact supplied grade. Regulatory or certification documents should be requested before ordering when required.