The measurement of the iodine value usually follows ASTM D4607. The test procedure consists of contacting a sample of activated carbon with an iodine solution and then measuring the change in iodine concentration in the solution. The iodine value is obtained by calculating the ratio of the amount of iodine adsorbed to the mass of the activated carbon.

The iodine value is a key indicator of the adsorption performance of activated carbon, which directly reflects the degree of development of the microporous structure of the activated carbon and the adsorption capacity of organic molecules.

• Adsorption capacityIodine value is an important indicator to evaluate the capacity of the activated carbon to adsorb organic molecules.
• Application selection: Different applications have different requirements for the iodine value of activated carbon, and activated carbon with high iodine value is suitable for applications requiring high adsorption performance.
• Quality controlIodine value is an important parameter for quality control during the production of activated carbon.

The iodine value of activated carbon depends on the following factors:

• Raw materials: the coconut shellthe carbon-based activated carbon and the wood-based activated carbon have different iodine values. Generally, coconut shell-based activated carbon has a higher iodine value.
• Activation methodThe method of activation has a significant effect on the iodine value. Chemical activation usually creates more micropores than physical activation, thus increasing the iodine value.
• Pore structureThe iodine value of activated carbon is mainly related to its microporous structure. The richer the micropores and the higher the specific surface area, the higher the iodine value.

The iodine value is a basic indicator of the performance of activated carbon, which usually has important applications in the following fields:

• Water treatmentHigh-iodine activated carbon can effectively remove organic pollutants from water.
• Air purificationIn gas treatment, high iodine value activated carbon is used to remove noxious gases and odors.
• Pharmaceutical industryHigh-iodine activated carbon is used for decolorization and refining in pharmaceutical processes.

Understanding the iodine value of activated carbon is essential for choosing the right activated carbon product. A high iodine value means higher adsorption capacity, which is essential to ensure efficiency and safety in industrial processes.