To remove off-flavors (such as fusel oils, aldehydes, and sulfides) and adjust the taste (reduce bitterness and improve purity) in alcoholic beverages, food-grade activated carbon is required. The core requirements are high adsorption selectivity, low ash content, no impurity leaching, and particle size suitable for the filtration process. The following are specific selection options:
Recommended Activated Carbon Types and Specifications
The key to activated carbon in alcohol treatment is selective adsorption of harmful impurities while preserving the flavor compounds in the alcohol. Different specifications are suitable for different processes (immersion/filtration):
1. Food-grade Coconut Shell Granular Activated Carbon
Iodine Adsorption Value: 900–1100 mg/g
Methylene Blue Value: 120–150 mg/g
Particle Size: 8–30 mesh (0.6–2.38mm)
Ash Content: ≤3%
pH Value: 6.5–8.5
Suitable Alcohol Processes: Column filtration for baijiu/brandy/whisky (mainstream process)
Core Advantages: Microporous + 1. Mesoporous Structure: This type of activated carbon preferentially adsorbs odor-causing substances such as fusel oils, acetaldehyde, and hydrogen sulfide, while adsorbing almost no flavor components like esters. It has high strength, preventing pulverization during filtration and thus avoiding cloudiness in the wine.
2. Food-Grade Coconut Shell Powdered Activated Carbon:
Iodine Adsorption Value: 1000–1200 mg/g
Methylene Blue Value: 140–180 mg/g
Particle Size: ≥200 mesh (≤75μm)
Ash Content: ≤4%
Residue: ≤0.5%
Suitable for: Wine/Fruit wine soaking, decolorization, and deodorization
Core Advantages: Large specific surface area and fast adsorption rate, quickly removing musty and bitter substances (such as phenols) from fruit wines; requires filtration after use, suitable for batch pretreatment.
3. Modified Coconut Shell Activated Carbon Acid Washing :
Iodine Adsorption Value: 1000–1100 mg/g mg/g Ash content: ≤1% Water-soluble matter: ≤0.3% Particle size: 10–20 mesh Suitable for: Deep purification of high-end baijiu/vodka Core advantages: Acid washing removes metal ion impurities, with no off-odor leaching; stronger adsorption selectivity reduces the spiciness of baijiu and enhances its smoothness.
