Activated carbon is carbon black exterior material, well-developed internal pore structure, specific surface area, adsorption ability of a class of microcrystalline carbon materials is a commonly used adsorbent, catalyst or catalyst carrier. 
 Activated carbon can be divided according to source of raw materials: wood activated carbon, carbon shell and animal bones / blood activated carbon, mineral raw materials, activated carbon, synthetic resin, activated carbon, rubber / plastic activated carbon, regeneration of activated carbon, etc.; 
 Activated carbon can be divided according to morphology: powder, granular, irregular granular, cylindrical, spherical and fibrous and so on. 
 The application of activated carbon is extremely broad, its use in almost all sectors of national economy and people's daily life, such as water purification, gold extraction, sugar decolorization, drug injection extraction, blood purification, air purification, human security and so on. 
 In addition to physical adsorption of activated carbon adsorption, and chemical adsorption. Activated carbon adsorption depends both on the pore structure, but also depends on the chemical composition. Activated carbon is not only, but with a small amount of the chemical combination of functional groups to work on oxygen and hydrogen, such as carbonyl, carboxyl, phenols, lactones, quinones, ethers. These surface oxides and complex with some derivatives from the raw materials, some are activated, the activation effect by the air or water vapor generated. Sometimes generate surface sulfide and chloride. Minerals contained in the activation of raw materials to the carbon in a concentration of ash, ash is the main component of alkali metals and alkaline earth metal salts, such as carbonate and phosphate. 
 The main factors of activated carbon adsorption 
 ① the nature of activated carbon adsorbent 
 The more surface area, the stronger the adsorption capacity; activated non-polar molecules, the adsorption of non-polar or polar easy low adsorbate; activated carbon adsorbent particle size, pore structure and distribution, and surface chemical properties adsorption also has a great influence. 
 ② the nature of adsorbate 
 Depends on its solubility, surface free energy, polarity, molecular size of adsorbate and non-saturation, with a concentration of quality 
 ③ PH value of water 
 Activated carbon is generally acidic than in alkaline solution has a higher absorption rate. 
 PH value of the adsorbate will exist in the water solubility and other state and impact, thus affecting the adsorption. 
 ④ foreign substances 
 Coexisting multiple adsorbate, the activated carbon adsorbent of the adsorption capacity of a certain ratio of adsorbent containing it only when the difference between the adsorption capacity 
 ⑤ temperature 
 Effect of temperature on small activated carbon adsorption 
 ⑥ contact time 
 Should ensure a certain quality of activated carbon and adsorption contact time, the adsorption close to balance, make full use of adsorption capacity.