Application of Pillared Carbon Activated Carbon in Oil and Gas Recovery

Activated carbon plays multiple key roles in the oil industry, especially in the field of desulfurization. The following is a detailed analysis from the two aspects of application scenarios and activated carbon types:

 

Application of Pillared Carbon Activated Carbon in Oil and Gas Recovery  

Activated carbon plays multiple key roles in the oil industry, especially in the field of desulfurization. The following is a detailed analysis from the two aspects of application scenarios and activated carbon types:

1. The main role of activated carbon in the oil industry

  Oil and gas recovery and light oil adsorption  

Activated carbon can efficiently adsorb light oil (such as benzene, alkanes, etc.) volatilized during oil processing through its high specific surface area (800-2000 m²/g) and pore structure. For example, in synthetic tail gas, activated carbon adsorption can recover more than 50% of light oil, significantly improving the yield.

Desulfurization and purification    

Sulfur compounds (such as hydrogen sulfide and mercaptan) in oil and natural gas can corrode equipment and pollute the environment. Activated carbon can remove sulfides from natural gas through physical adsorption and chemical modification (such as loading metal oxides), with a sulfur capacity of 850-950 mg/g and a desulfurization efficiency of 85%-95%. For example, in gas plants and petroleum synthesis plants, activated carbon is used for desulfurization to meet gas use standards.

​​Waste gas and wastewater treatment​​ Activated carbon is used to absorb VOCs (volatile organic compounds) and malodorous gases (such as benzene-containing waste gas) emitted by the petroleum industry. Combined processes (such as zeolite wheel + activated carbon adsorption) can reduce the benzene concentration from 500 mg/m³ to below 10 mg/m³, which meets environmental protection standards.

​​Drilling fluid and natural gas dehydration​​ In oil and gas production, activated carbon adsorbs heavy metals, suspended matter and harmfulgases in drilling fluids, and is also used for natural gas dehydration to remove moisture to ensure safe transportation.

 Types of activated carbon mainly used in petroleum desulfurization The selection of activated carbon for petroleum desulfurization requires comprehensive consideration of sulfur capacity, mechanical strength and regeneration performance. Common types include:

Coal-based granular activated carbon

​​ ​​Characteristics​​: Made of high-quality coal, reasonable pore size distribution (micropores account for >70%), high sulfur capacity (900-950 mg/g), high temperature resistance (150-200℃).

​​Application​​: Used for natural gas, coal gas desulfurization, and high-temperature flue gas treatment. For example, columnar coal-based carbon can achieve efficient adsorption of sulfides in thermal power plants and petrochemical plants.

​​Modified activated carbon  

Metal-loaded type: Enhance chemical adsorption capacity by impregnating metal salts such as cobalt, nickel, and molybdenum. For example, activated carbon loaded with metal oxides can synergistically remove mercaptans and H₂S, with a comprehensive purification efficiency of 92%. ​​

Nitric acid oxidation type: The surface alkalinity of activated carbon treated with concentrated nitric acid is enhanced, and the ability to selectively adsorb sulfides is improved. It is suitable for gasoline desulfurization, and the sulfur capacity is more than 40%.

​​Biomass-based activated carbon  

Prepared with raw materials such as coconut shells and straw, it has a low carbon footprint. In the future trend, it can be combined with MOFs (metal organic frameworks) to further improve the adsorption-catalytic synergistic efficiency.

3. Technical challenges and development directions   Regeneration problems: Traditional thermal regeneration has high energy consumption (accounting for 60% of the cost), and new microwave regeneration technology can reduce the loss to less than 5%. ​​

Adaptability to complex components: For high-boiling point substances (such as siloxanes), a graded adsorption process (such as a pre-silica gel layer) needs to be developed.

​​Standardization​​: Promote the unification of penetration curve test methods and replacement cycle models to optimize full life cycle management.  

Columnar activated carbon is made of high-quality coal and other raw materials, and is made through crushing, mixing, extrusion, molding, drying, carbonization, and activation. We know that light oil products such as gasoline are highly volatile, and oil and gas evaporation will cause losses to enterprises during transportation, storage and use. So today we will talk about how columnar activated carbon can recover oil and gas well.  

1. Standards for columnar activated carbon for oil and gas recovery: The pore size distribution of columnar activated carbon products is reasonable, the mesopores are well developed, and it has good adsorption capacity and high desorption capacity. In addition, it must have high strength, air permeability and wear resistance. At the same time, it requires the characteristics of light specific gravity and small flow resistance, which greatly improves the service life of the product, has high cost performance, and can better save costs for enterprises.  

2. Columnar activated carbon is used in the field of oil and gas recovery: Columnar activated carbon is mainly used in various refineries, oil depots, gas stations and small vehicles. In addition, it can also be used in textile printing and dyeing industry, petrochemical industry, leather industry, paint and coating, rubber plastics, pharmaceuticals, electronics, chemical fiber, brewing and other industries.