Jacobi Activated Carbon for Biogas: Alternatives Compared

If you're running a biogas upgrading plant or landfill gas treatment system, there's a good chance your carbon spec says "Jacobi" somewhere on it. The AddSorb and EcoSorb series have become default specifications for biogas purification across European and North American markets — covering everything from bulk H₂S removal to siloxane polishing.

That position is based on real performance. Jacobi's biogas carbons are engineered for the specific contaminant mix in biogas streams — hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, siloxanes, and VOCs that damage CHP engines and contaminate upgraded biomethane.

But "engineered for biogas" also means "priced through a distributor network." If you're consuming 20–100+ tons of carbon per year, the question worth asking is: does an equivalent carbon exist at factory-direct pricing — and does it actually perform the same?

This article breaks down Jacobi's current biogas product line, what each grade actually does, and how Huamei's HME-AC™ pellet carbon and custom-impregnated carbons compare on the parameters that determine whether your biogas meets pipeline or engine specifications.

Jacobi's Current Biogas Product Portfolio

Jacobi organizes its biogas carbons into three product families, each targeting different contaminants. Here's the current lineup:

H₂S Removal — AddSorb Series

NH₃ Removal — AddSorb VB1-BG

Siloxane & VOC Removal — EcoSorb / ReSorb Series

The key insight: Jacobi doesn't use one carbon for everything. They split the job into specialized grades — impregnated carbons for reactive gases (H₂S, NH₃), virgin carbons for physical adsorption tasks (siloxanes, VOCs), and regenerable grades for systems with thermal swing capability. Your replacement strategy needs to respect these distinctions.

What Makes Biogas Carbon Different from Generic Carbon

Biogas purification isn't generic adsorption. The contaminant mix — H₂S, NH₃, siloxanes (D4, D5, L2), mercaptans, and halogenated compounds — demands specific carbon properties for each target:

H₂S removal operates through catalytic oxidation on the carbon surface. The carbon needs:

• Alkaline pH (>8) or specific chemical impregnation (KOH, NaOH, KI) to catalyze the H₂S → elemental sulfur reaction
• High mesopore volume for sulfur deposition capacity
• Sufficient oxygen availability in the gas stream (~2% O₂)

NH₃ removal requires the opposite chemistry — acid-impregnated carbon (typically phosphoric acid) that reacts with alkaline gases. Standard alkaline carbon does almost nothing for NH₃. This is why Jacobi has a separate grade (VB1-BG) rather than using their H₂S carbons for both.

Siloxane removal is primarily physical adsorption driven by:

• High surface area (siloxane molecules are larger than H₂S or NH₃)
• Mesopore-to-macropore ratio optimized for D4/D5 molecule size (~0.8–1.0 nm)
• Low moisture sensitivity (wet biogas streams reduce adsorption capacity)

The engineering reality: A single carbon grade cannot handle all three targets effectively. Most biogas plants run multi-stage systems with different carbons matched to each contaminant — and that's exactly what you should plan for when evaluating alternatives.

Huamei Alternatives: Grade-by-Grade Matching

Replacing Jacobi biogas carbons isn't one product swap — it's matching the right Huamei grade to each Jacobi grade's function. Here's the mapping based on contaminant target and mechanism:

H₂S Grades: AddSorb VA6-BG / VA12-BG / OX20 / OX30 / VA10

Replacement logic:

• For AddSorb VA6-BG, VA12-BG (impregnated H₂S grades): Replace with Huamei KOH-impregnated pellet carbon. These are chemically enhanced carbons — you need the same type of chemical impregnation, not just a high-CTC virgin carbon. Huamei produces custom KOH-impregnated grades with adjustable loading percentages.
• For AddSorb OX20, OX30 (non-impregnated catalytic grades): Replace with HME-AC™60 — virgin coal-based pellet with alkaline pH. These grades rely on the carbon's natural catalytic surface rather than added chemicals, so a virgin pellet with matching CTC and pH is the right equivalent.
• For AddSorb VA10 (mercaptans + H₂S): Discuss with Huamei — may require KI (potassium iodide) impregnation rather than KOH, depending on
  htmlyour mercaptan species.

NH₃ Grade: AddSorb VB1-BG

Replacement logic: NH₃ removal requires acid-impregnated carbon — the chemistry is the opposite of H₂S removal. Do NOT use KOH-impregnated or standard alkaline carbon for NH₃; it won't work. Huamei produces phosphoric acid (H₃PO₄) impregnated pellet carbon specifically for alkaline gas treatment, which is the direct equivalent of VB1-BG.

Siloxane & VOC Grades: EcoSorb BS / EcoSorb GXC / ReSorb VT

Replacement logic:

• For EcoSorb BS (siloxane-focused): Replace with HME-AC™70 — CTC 70% provides the pore volume needed for D4/D5 siloxane molecules.
• For EcoSorb GXC (siloxane + VOC multi-contaminant): Replace with HME-AC™80 — higher CTC (80%) for broader-spectrum physical adsorption across both siloxanes and mixed VOCs.
• For ReSorb VT (regenerable): Both HME-AC™70 and HME-AC™80 support thermal regeneration. Confirm your regeneration temperature and method with Huamei to ensure compatibility.

Quick Reference: Jacobi → Huamei Replacement Table

Price and Supply

The structural price difference is distribution economics: Jacobi passes through intermediaries between factory and end user; Huamei ships direct. For a biogas plant consuming 40–100 tons/year across multiple grades, the annual cost difference funds comprehensive pilot testing in Year 1 — and delivers ongoing savings every year after.

Important Note: Impregnated Carbon Is Not Interchangeable

This deserves its own section because it's the most common mistake when switching biogas carbon suppliers.

You cannot replace impregnated carbon with virgin carbon. If your current Jacobi grade is AddSorb VA6-BG (KOH-impregnated for H₂S) or VB1-BG (acid-impregnated for NH₃), replacing it with a standard HME-AC™60 pellet will fail — the virgin carbon lacks the chemical reactivity needed for high-efficiency removal of reactive gases.

Conversely:

• KOH-impregnated carbon works for H₂S but NOT for NH₃ — both are alkaline, they won't react
• H₃PO₄-impregnated carbon works for NH₃ but NOT for H₂S — acid surface won't catalyze H₂S oxidation
• Virgin carbon works for siloxanes and VOCs — physical adsorption only, no impregnation needed (or wanted — impregnant occupies pore volume that should be available for physical adsorption)

When requesting quotes from Huamei, always specify:

1. Whether your current carbon is impregnated or virgin
2. If impregnated: what reagent and what loading percentage (ask your Jacobi rep if you don't have this)
3. Target contaminant and inlet concentration
4. Operating temperature and humidity

Huamei produces both KOH and H₃PO₄ impregnated carbons with adjustable loading — but they need your specific requirements to match the product correctly.

FAQ

What Jacobi activated carbon is used for biogas H₂S removal?

Jacobi offers several H₂S grades for biogas: AddSorb VA6-BG and VA12-BG (impregnated, high sulfur capacity), AddSorb OX20 and OX30 (non-impregnated catalytic), and AddSorb VA10 (H₂S plus mercaptans). The choice depends on H₂S inlet concentration, whether you need impregnated or catalytic removal, and bed design. For direct factory-sourced equivalents, Huamei's HME-AC™ pellet carbon (virgin catalytic) and custom KOH-impregnated pellets match these specifications.

Can I replace Jacobi AddSorb with a cheaper activated carbon for biogas?

Yes — if you match the mechanism, not just the format. For H₂S grades: impregnated Jacobi carbons (VA6-BG, VA12-BG) must be replaced with impregnated equivalents. For siloxane grades (EcoSorb BS, GXC): match CTC value and pore structure with high-CTC virgin pellet carbon like HME-AC™70 or HME-AC™80. Always run a pilot breakthrough test before committing to a full bed replacement.

What is the difference between AddSorb and EcoSorb from Jacobi?

AddSorb grades target reactive gases — H₂S (VA6-BG, VA12-BG, OX20, OX30, VA10) and NH₃ (VB1-BG) — using catalytic or chemical impregnation mechanisms. EcoSorb grades (BS, GXC) target siloxanes and VOCs using physical adsorption — they rely on pore structure rather than chemical treatment. ReSorb VT is the regenerable variant for thermal swing systems. They're different product families for different contaminant targets.

How much activated carbon does a biogas plant use per year?

Typical consumption ranges from 10–100+ tons/year depending on plant capacity, contaminant levels, and number of treatment stages. A 500 Nm³/hr biogas upgrading plant with 2,000 ppm H₂S inlet typically consumes 20–40 tons/year of H₂S-grade carbon. Siloxane polishing stages consume less (5–15 tons/year) but require more frequent replacement due to faster saturation.

Does Huamei make impregnated activated carbon for biogas?

Yes. Huamei produces custom-impregnated pellet activated carbon including KOH-impregnated (for H₂S/acid gases), NaOH-impregnated, H₃PO₄-impregnated (for NH₃/alkaline gases), and KI-impregnated (for mercaptans). Impregnant loading percentage is adjustable to match your target contaminant concentration. MOQ is 10 tons per impregnation type, with 28-day lead time including impregnation, curing, and QC.