Introduction
During protein extraction and refining, unwanted pigments, small organic impurities, and fermentation by-products often remain in the solution. These impurities negatively affect protein purity, stability, and appearance.Activated carbon—especially wood-based powdered activated carbon (PAC)—is widely used for decolorization and impurity removal in the protein industry. As ZhuLin Activated Carbon, we provide high‑purity, high‑efficiency wood-based PAC tailored for protein purification applications.
What Is Protein Decolorization?
Protein decolorization is the process of removing pigments, phenolic compounds, and fermentation residues from protein extracts to improve purity and clarity.Wood-based PAC is ideal because of its strong adsorption capacity and clean pharmaceutical-grade profile. It is mainly used for:
• Removing natural pigments formed during extraction or fermentation
• Essential for achieving a clear, light-colored protein solution
• Improving downstream filtration and stability
• Widely used in plant proteins, enzymatic hydrolysates, dairy proteins, and microbial proteins
Why Use Wood-Based Powdered Activated Carbon?
Wood-based PAC provides a large mesopore volume, ideal for adsorbing medium‑sized molecules such as pigments and organic residues commonly found in protein solutions. Its fast adsorption rate and high purity make it suitable for food, pharmaceutical, and biotechnology applications.Advantages
- High mesopore content ideal for protein-related pigments
- Fast adsorption kinetics for efficient batch processing
- High purity and low ash suitable for food-grade operations
- Excellent dispersibility ensuring uniform contact
- Neutral pH, stable and safe for sensitive proteins
- Better filtration performance than coal-based carbons
Zhulin Activated Carbon Powder
Our ZhuLin wood-based PAC is specifically optimized for protein decolorization and refining.
Below is the standard technical specification table, with emphasis on methylene blue value (MB)—a key indicator of adsorption strength.
| Parameter | Typical Value |
| Methylene Blue Value (MB) | 150–220 mg/g |
| Iodine Value | 800–950 mg/g |
| Moisture | < 10% |
| Ash Content | < 2.5% |
| pH | 6–8 |
| Particle Size | 90% passing 200 mesh |
| Bulk Density | 300–380 g/L |
| Activation Method | Steam activation |
Common Applications
• Plant proteins (soy, pea, rice protein)• Dairy proteins (whey, casein hydrolysates)
• Enzymatic protein hydrolysis
• Collagen and gelatin decolorization
• Microbial fermentation proteins
• Enzyme preparations
Conclusion
Wood-based powdered activated carbon is the preferred choice for protein purification due to its optimal pore structure, high mesopore volume, excellent adsorption capacity, and stable performance.As ZhuLin Activated Carbon, we provide high-quality PAC products with strong methylene blue values, specially designed for food-grade, pharma-grade, and biotech-grade protein applications. For technical consultation, custom specifications, or bulk orders, ZhuLin is ready to support your protein purification process.
