Air pollution is most important from the public health of view, because every individual person breaths approximately 22000 times a day, inhaling about 15 to 22 kg of air daily. The main pollutants contribute by automobile are carbon monoxide (CO), unburned hydrocarbon (UBHC), oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and Lead. Pollutant removal from combustion gas in both SI&CI is one of the most widely known environmental applications of activated carbons. In order to guarantee the successful removal of contaminants and pollutants on activated carbons, the developments of new adsorbents has been increasing in the last few years. This paper is a systematic study of cleaning SI&CI engine of CO, SO2, NO2 Using activated carbon filter. The combustion gases were qualitative and quantitative analyzed by gas chromatography. The use of this simple method is a valuable alternative to meet emission standards in developing countries. It was demonstrated that the agricultural wastes studied here are a feasible alternative for reducing pollutants in SI & CI engine.

1. Journal for Research | Volume 03| Issue 01 | March 2017
ISSN: 2395-7549
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A Review Study on Activated Carbon for
Reducing Pollution
E.Arun A.Guruprasath
UG Student UG Student
Department of Automobile Engineering Department of Automobile Engineering
RVS Technical Campus-Coimbatore, India RVS Technical Campus-Coimbatore, India
Dr.K.Mylsamy T.KarthikPrabhu
Professor & Head Assistant Professor
Department of Automobile Engineering Department of Automobile Engineering
RVS Technical Campus-Coimbatore, India RVS Technical Campus-Coimbatore, India
Abstract
Air pollution is most important from the public health of view, because every individual person breaths approximately 22000 times
a day, inhaling about 15 to 22 kg of air daily. The main pollutants contribute by automobile are carbon monoxide (CO), unburned
hydrocarbon (UBHC), oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and Lead. Pollutant removal from combustion gas in both SI&CI is one of the
most widely known environmental applications of activated carbons. In order to guarantee the successful removal of contaminants
and pollutants on activated carbons, the developments of new adsorbents has been increasing in the last few years. This paper is a
systematic study of cleaning SI&CI engine of CO, SO2, NO2 Using activated carbon filter. The combustion gases were qualitative
and quantitative analyzed by gas chromatography. The use of this simple method is a valuable alternative to meet emission
standards in developing countries. It was demonstrated that the agricultural wastes studied here are a feasible alternative for
reducing pollutants in SI & CI engine.
Keywords: UBHC, Activated Carbon
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
I. INTRODUCTION
Agricultural wastes cannot be introduced to the environment in unlimited amounts, especially in case of air pollutants. Different
measures have been taken to limit the pollutant emission. e.g.: Elimination of technological process generating a lot of waste,
introduction of new technology which minimize the contamination etc. If it is not possible to reduce the emission, the waste gas
must be purified.
II. ALTERNATES FOR REDUCING POLLUTION:
Nowadays, the economic condition of developing countries don’t allow that all individuals own a new automotive .It is necessary
to develop alternatives to reduce the negative environmental impacts associated with obsolete engines operation. The best way to
address it is by reducing certain exhaust gas components during fuel combustion. The answer therefore is to look at vehicles as an
integral whole to identify which solution would be more feasible. The three main exhaust emission control strategies can be defined.
They are
 Reduction of fuel consumption
 Exhaust gas treatment
 Performance monitoring
From these three alternatives the second one is currently the more effective for air quality improvements. The main gas treatment
currently used is the catalytic converter. But instead of that we are using the activated carbon filter.
III. PROPERTIES OF ACTIVATED CARBON
Activated carbon products can be characterized by its activity and physical properties. The activity properties include pore size
distribution that defines the available pore volume of a carbon over three pore size region. They are
 Micropore region-Less than 100 Angstroms
 Mesopore region –Between 100 and 1,000 Angstroms
 Macropore region-Greater than 1,000 Angstroms

2. A Review Study on Activated Carbon for Reducing Pollution
(J4R/ Volume 03 / Issue 01 / 010)
All rights reserved by www.journal4research.org 48
Pore size distribution properties are key indicators of a carbons potential performance for removing contaminants .The molecules
encountered in gas phase are generally smaller than those in liquid phase application. Therefore, a gas phase carbon has the majority
of its pores concentrated in the micropore region.
The physical properties of carbon include,
 Surface area
 Product density
 Mesh size
 Abrasion number
 Ash content etc.
IV. POLLUTANTS MONITORING AT LABORATORY SCALE
There is no known method available in the open literature which is capable of simultaneously determining all components of
combustion gas evaluated here .so the method developed in this work in an innovative alternative for developing countries.
In order to determine the suitability of the obtained adsorbents in the elimination of CO, SO2, No2 and H2S, the pollutants
removal rate was determined.
This system includes among others,
 6 cylinder diesel engine
 Activated carbon filter
 Exhaust gas analyzer device
 Computer system for data acquisition and recording.
The methodology used starting with the preparation of the calibration gas sample by injecting known volumes of each of the
four pure gases (CO, S02, NO2, and H2S) and balance nitrogen into adequate gas sampling bag through the bags rubber septum.
One ML of the calibration gas mixture and the combustion gases were analyzed by a GC system. Randomly measure of combustion
gases before and after the purification process was made on a similar manner in order to evaluate the removal rate of the undesirable
pollutants.
V. EXHAUST AIR FILTRATION
Compliance with pollutant limits set by the German technical instruction on air quality control requires exhaust air treatment
through activated carbon in order to fulfil administrative restrictions. During the filtration process, hydrocarbon compounds,
particulate matters are absorbed by activated carbon and leave the exhaust air free of these compounds.
VI. CONCLUSION
Air pollution in India is quite a serious issue with the major sources being fuel wood and biomass burning, fuel adulteration, vehicle
emission and traffic congestion. In 2005, India adopted emission standard of Bharat
Stage IV for vehicles, which is equivalent to Euro IV. European standards for vehicle emissions. Agricultural wastes studied
here are a feasible alternative for activated carbons preparation for pollutants removal during both SI&CI engine.
The main products feature that make these products feasible for diesel engine emission diminishing are the high adsorption
capacity.
Based on the result obtained, the granular activated carbon studied, produced in large amounts, is fully exploitable for
combustion gases treatment.
The complex composition of the flue gas with SO2, CO, NO2 and H2S can be successfully analyzed with good compound
separation and repeatability.
This method used in this investigation would be also be suitable for combustion toxicology researches and could possibly be
easily modified to analyze these gases when they are liberated from biological sources.
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