Pore structure depends on raw materials used
Activated carbon made from peat has both meso- and micro pores. In the manufacturing process it is possible to control the distribution of meso- and micro pores and get many
meso pores for a multipurpose activated carbon. Even pulverized peat carbon contains meso pores.
Activated carbon made from mined stone coal also has both micro- and meso pores and also has a multipurpose character. Some of the most popular coal carbons on the market have 0.4-1.4 mm grains. An increasingly popular newcomer is coal carbon with
smaller grains: 0.4-0.85 mm. Activated carbon based on lignite has many meso pores 1-4 nm in size, along with larger
meso pores with easy accessibility, also in pulverized form.
Activated carbon based on coconut shell has only micro pores throughout, less than 1 nm in size. If you purify alcohol (where many impurities are between 2-10 nm) with coconut carbon, you soon clog up the entrances to the micro pores, with the result that
smaller grains: 0.4-0.85 mm. Activated carbon based on lignite has many meso pores 1-4 nm in size, along with larger
meso pores with easy accessibility, also in pulverized form.
Activated carbon based on coconut shell has only micro pores throughout, less than 1 nm in size. If you purify alcohol (where many impurities are between 2-10 nm) with coconut carbon, you soon clog up the entrances to the micro pores, with the result that
you cannot use the carbon to its fullest capacity. However, it can still be successful, since coconut carbon often has 2-3 times the ability of other carbons.
Chemically activated carbon is extremely porous, with many micro- and meso pores. Compared with steam-activated carbon, chemically activated carbon has a surface that takes in less liquid and has a more negative charge. This reduces the effect in the
purification of alcohol.