For gold CIL/CIP plants, order coconut-shell activated carbon with iodine number 900+ and high hardness; for water treatment and gas purification, coal-based grades are the economical choice. It ships as general cargo under HS 3802.10 in 25 kg bags, with 20-45 days to African and South American ports.
Activated carbon is the workhorse of gold recovery: in CIL and CIP circuits, the carbon adsorbs dissolved gold from the cyanide leach slurry, and it is the same material behind drinking-water plants, sugar refineries and gas-purification units. China exports granular activated carbon at competitive prices, and because it is not classified as dangerous goods, importing it is simpler than most of the chemicals you already move. This guide covers the grades that matter, the COA numbers to check and the practical shipping details.
1. Which grade for which job?
| Application | Recommended grade | What matters most |
|---|---|---|
| Gold CIL / CIP recovery | Coconut-based, 6×12 mesh | Hardness (low attrition loss), high iodine number, low ash |
| Drinking-water treatment | Coconut or coal-based, 8×30 mesh | Consistent particle size, low fines, certified grades |
| Wastewater / industrial water | Coal-based granular | Cost per kilo, good adsorption, available locally |
| Gas purification & air filters | Coal-based extruded / pellet | Low pressure drop, high abrasion resistance |
| Solvent recovery / sugar decolourising | Coconut or wood-based powder | High surface area, fine particle size |
For gold plants, coconut-shell carbon is the standard choice: it is harder than coal-based carbon, so it survives months of pumping, screening and acid washing with much lower attrition loss. Coal-based granular carbon is cheaper and fine for water treatment, but gold circuits quickly chew through soft carbon.
2. The three COA numbers a gold buyer must check
- Iodine number (mg/g) — the standard adsorption indicator. Gold-grade coconut carbon is typically 900–1000 mg/g min. Below 850, adsorption performance drops noticeably.
- Hardness / abrasion number (%) — for gold circuits, look for 97% min. Lower hardness means carbon fines in your pregnant solution and lost gold-bearing carbon.
- Ash content (%) — keep it low (3–5% max); high ash interferes with gold loading and acid reactivation.
Also confirm the mesh size / particle distribution on the COA: 6×12 mesh is the CIL/CIP standard, and a wide size spread causes screen blockages and fines carryover.
3. HS code — and why shipping is easy
Activated carbon falls under HS 3802.10 (activated carbon). Unlike caustic soda, sodium hydrosulfide or ammonium nitrate, activated carbon is not regulated as dangerous goods for sea freight: it ships as general cargo in standard dry containers, needs no DG booking, no UN-certified packaging and no maritime dangerous-goods declaration. That usually means faster booking and a slightly lower freight rate than DG chemicals.
One real caution: keep the carbon sealed and dry. Activated carbon is a strong adsorber — if bags are left open, it picks up moisture and odours, and customs officials occasionally open consignments. Insist on palletised, polyethylene-lined bags and a clean, dry container.
4. Packaging and MOQ
- 25 kg PP bags with inner liner — standard for gold plants and water works
- 500 kg / 1000 kg big bags — for larger CIL plants and central carbon-handling units
A 20ft container loads roughly 18–20 tons of bagged activated carbon (it is a light, bulky product, so you usually fill by volume rather than weight).
5. Shipping time to your port
- West Africa (Lagos, Tema, Abidjan, Dakar): about 25–35 days
- East Africa (Mombasa, Dar es Salaam): about 20–30 days
- South America (Callao, Santos, Cartagena): about 35–45 days
6. The three most common problems
(1) Iodine number inflated on the COA — reputable exporters test every batch; ask for the batch report before loading. (2) Soft carbon in a gold circuit — if the grade is not coconut-based with 97%+ hardness, your gold losses through attrition can be significant. (3) Moisture pickup during transit — specify lined bags and a dry container; wet carbon loses adsorption capacity before it even reaches your plant.
SAIFENG supplies coconut and coal-based granular activated carbon for gold CIL/CIP plants, water treatment and gas purification, alongside caustic soda, sodium cyanide, leaching agents and ammonium nitrate for mining and metallurgy customers across Africa and South America. Every inquiry is answered within 2 working hours.
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