Abstract: The invention relates to the production of shaped high-performance adsorbents by steam activation in a rotary tunnel kiln operating in batches, in which spherically pre-formed materials are carefully pre-dried in a rotary tunnel dryer with 4-fold product turnover per kiln rotation and with a space/time ratio of from 1 to 2.5 m3/h using hot gas, then carbonised in an indirectly heated rotary tunnel kiln with 6-fold product turnover per kiln rotation and with a space/time ratio of from 5 to 10 m3/h in an inert-gas flow, and the carbonised semi-finished articles are activated in batches in an indirectly heated rotary tunnel kiln with 8-fold product turnover per kiln rotation and with a space/time ratio of from 1 to 5 m3/h with the addition of steam in an inert-gas flow. High-quality shaped high-performance adsorbents are obtained which are versatile and especially suitable for use in air separation, adsorptive cooling and as adsorbent components in textiles and synthetic fabrics.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the production of shaped activated carbon by steam activation in an continuously operating rotary tunnel kiln, by continuously drying spherically preformed raw materials in a rotary tunnel dryer with 6-fold product turnover per kiln rotation, with a product temperature of from 250 to 300° C. in the 50 to 80% kiln length range and a residence time of from 30 to 6O minutes by means of a hot gas in countercurrent, then, in an indirectly heated rotary tunnel kiln, which is subdivided into a carbonising zone and activating zone, continuously carbonising the material with 8-fold product turnover per kiln rotation and with a product temperature profile in the carbonising zone of from 850 to 900° C. and a residence time of from 120 to 180 minutes, and activating the material with a product temperature profile in the activating zone of from 910 to 920° C. and a residence time of from 480 to 720 minutes with the addition of steam in an inert-gas flow.