Application of activated carbon in the food industry

Activated carbon is a carbon material with a highly porous structure and strong adsorption capacity and chemical stability. In the food industry, activated carbon is widely used in water treatment, removal of pollutants and improvement of product quality.   Food-grade powdered activated carbon is used in food processing plants, mostly to remove pigments, impurities, and odors from food raw materia

 

Activated carbon is a carbon material with a highly porous structure and strong adsorption capacity and chemical stability. In the food industry, activated carbon is widely used in water treatment, removal of pollutants and improvement of product quality.   Food-grade powdered activated carbon is used in food processing plants, mostly to remove pigments, impurities, and odors from food raw materials using its decolorization and adsorption capabilities. Specifically, it can be summarized as: removing pigments and their precursors, adjusting flavor, deodorizing, removing colloids, removing substances that hinder crystallization, and improving product stability.

Activated carbon used in the food industry is made of natural high-quality pine charcoal and high-quality sawdust as raw materials, and is refined by special processes of physical and chemical methods using scientific formulas. It is in the form of black powder. It has a developed mesoporous structure, fast decolorization speed, large adsorption capacity, short filtration time, and good hydrophobicity. It has the advantages of being sterile, odorless, non-toxic, low in impurities, good adsorption effect, and fast filtration speed.  

Water source purification: Water is an indispensable resource in food processing, and pollutants in water may affect the quality and safety of food. Therefore, purifying water sources is one of the important steps to ensure the production of the food industry. Activated carbon can remove impurities such as organic matter, odor, pigments and heavy metals in water. Depending on the different pollutants, activated carbon with different pore sizes and properties can be selected for treatment. The adsorption capacity of activated carbon can effectively remove odors and pigments, making water more transparent and clear.

Food decolorizer: Activated carbon can adsorb colored substances, so it can be used as a food decolorizer. In the saccharification industry, activated carbon can remove residual pigments with poor color, making the product more transparent and clear. At the same time, it can also be used to decolorize alcoholic beverages such as brewing beer and liquor, making the alcoholic beverages clearer and more transparent.  

Food purifier: During the food processing process, a variety of odor molecules may be produced, such as fishy smell, fishy smell, and corrupt smell, which will reduce the taste and quality of the food. Activated carbon can be used as a food purifier to remove odor molecules due to its strong adsorption capacity. For example, in the alcohol industry, activated carbon can be added to raw materials such as liquor and beer to remove odors and improve the taste and quality of the alcohol.  

Food preservative: Activated carbon also has bactericidal and antibacterial effects, so it can be used as a food preservative. In the dairy industry, activated carbon can be added to dairy products to extend the shelf life of the product. In meat processing, activated carbon can be added to marinated meat to prevent mold and bacteria from growing and increase the shelf life of the product.

Food additives: Compared with other chemical methods, activated carbon is more widely accepted as a natural non-toxic adsorbent, so it is also widely used in food processing. For example, in baked foods such as biscuits and bread, activated carbon can be added to flour to remove odors and harmful substances such as formaldehyde in the air. Application in storage  

Food desiccant: During the storage of food, tea, coffee, scented tea and other products, adding a certain amount of activated carbon can effectively absorb moisture and odor, prevent the product from deteriorating, mildewing or insect infestation, thereby ensuring the quality and taste of the product.  

Removal of harmful substances: There are some harmful substances in food, such as pesticide residues, heavy metals and preservatives. These substances have potential risks to human health, so they need to be removed from food. Through activated carbon adsorption technology, harmful substances can be effectively removed. The high specific surface area and strong adsorption capacity of activated carbon can adsorb harmful substances on its surface to purify the food. Soak the food containing pesticides in activated carbon water, and the activated carbon can adsorb pesticide molecules, reduce their concentration, and remove pesticide residues. Activated carbon can adsorb heavy metal ions, reduce their content in food, and remove heavy metals. Activated carbon can adsorb preservative molecules, reduce their concentration, and remove preservatives.

Improve product quality: Another important application of activated carbon in the food industry is to improve the quality of products. Through the adsorption of activated carbon, the taste, mouthfeel and color of food can be improved, and the market competitiveness of products can be improved. Activated carbon can be used to extract pigments and spices from food. Pigments and spices are important ingredients in food. They not only affect the appearance and taste of food, but also have an important impact on the consumer experience. Through activated carbon adsorption technology, pigments and flavors can be effectively extracted to make the product have better quality.    

Precautions  

1. Activated carbon should not be used too much. It should be added in appropriate amounts according to the different needs of the product during use.  

2. Activated carbon must be made of food-grade materials to ensure the safety and hygiene of the product.  

3. Deep filtration and cleaning are required before use to remove dust and impurities.  

4. Humid and high temperature environments should be avoided during storage to avoid reduced adsorption of activated carbon.  

5. It should be replaced promptly after use to avoid cross contamination and reduced effect.