顆粒活(huo)性(xing)炭(tan)常(chang)常(chang)應用(yong)于(yu)吸(xi)附分子，顆粒活(huo)性(xing)炭(tan)吸(xi)附性(xing)決定應用(yong)性(xing)，而吸(xi)附性(xing)和(he)各種炭(tan)型(xing)的孔(kong)大小分布相(xiang)關。以水蒸(zheng)氣活(huo)化的泥煤基、褐煤基和(he)椰殼(ke)基粉狀活(huo)性(xing)炭(tan)為(wei)例(li)：泥煤基活(huo)性(xing)炭(tan)具(ju)有微孔(kong)和(he)中孔(kong)，顆粒活(huo)性(xing)炭(tan)可(ke)供多種應用(yong)；褐煤基炭(tan)具(ju)中孔(kong)較(jiao)多，顆粒活(huo)性(xing)炭(tan)而且還有較(jiao)大的中孔(kong)，提(ti)供優良的可(ke)入(ru)性(xing)；椰殼(ke)基顆粒活(huo)性(xing)炭(tan)中主要是微孔(kong)，僅適(shi)用(yong)于(yu)低分子的去除。
利用化(hua)(hua)學(xue)品(pin)活化(hua)(hua)的顆(ke)粒(li)(li)活性(xing)(xing)(xing)炭是(shi)非常多孔(kong)(kong)(kong)的，多在微孔(kong)(kong)(kong)和(he)中孔(kong)(kong)(kong)范圍(wei)，但是(shi)，比較(jiao)(jiao)水蒸(zheng)氣活化(hua)(hua)的活性(xing)(xing)(xing)炭、化(hua)(hua)學(xue)品(pin)活化(hua)(hua)的活性(xing)(xing)(xing)炭的孔(kong)(kong)(kong)表面是(shi)較(jiao)(jiao)少疏水性(xing)(xing)(xing)和(he)較(jiao)(jiao)多負電荷。以擠壓型和(he)破碎型粒(li)(li)狀活性(xing)(xing)(xing)炭為例：泥煤基擠壓型活性(xing)(xing)(xing)炭能制(zhi)成(cheng)各(ge)種(zhong)不同孔(kong)(kong)(kong)大小分布的品(pin)種(zhong)。既(ji)有(you)微孔(kong)(kong)(kong)又有(you)中孔(kong)(kong)(kong)的品(pin)種(zhong)大都(dou)用于液相應用，如水純化(hua)(hua)中吸附小分子(zi)和(he)大分子(zi)的雜(za)質。
破(po)碎型煤(mei)基顆(ke)粒(li)活(huo)性(xing)(xing)炭(tan)(tan)兼有(you)微孔和(he)中孔，可供多種目的(de)(de)的(de)(de)應用(yong)。褐煤(mei)基或椰殼基的(de)(de)粒(li)狀(zhuang)(zhuang)活(huo)性(xing)(xing)炭(tan)(tan)與粉狀(zhuang)(zhuang)炭(tan)(tan)一樣具有(you)相(xiang)同的(de)(de)微孔和(he)中孔結構。活(huo)性(xing)(xing)炭(tan)(tan)的(de)(de)技術指(zhi)(zhi)標(biao)非常重要(yao)：活(huo)性(xing)(xing)炭(tan)(tan)產品(pin)的(de)(de)性(xing)(xing)能指(zhi)(zhi)標(biao)可分為物理(li)性(xing)(xing)能指(zhi)(zhi)標(biao)、活(huo)性(xing)(xing)炭(tan)(tan)化學性(xing)(xing)能指(zhi)(zhi)標(biao)、顆(ke)粒(li)活(huo)性(xing)(xing)炭(tan)(tan)吸附性(xing)(xing)能指(zhi)(zhi)標(biao)。三(san)種性(xing)(xing)能指(zhi)(zhi)標(biao)對活(huo)性(xing)(xing)炭(tan)(tan)的(de)(de)選擇和(he)應用(yong)都起到非常重要(yao)的(de)(de)作用(yong)。活(huo)性(xing)(xing)炭(tan)(tan)主要(yao)物理(li)性(xing)(xing)能指(zhi)(zhi)標(biao)有(you)：形狀(zhuang)(zhuang)、外觀、比表面(mian)積、孔容積、比重、目數、粒(li)度、耐磨強度、漂浮率等。