Activated Carbon Now

Activated carbon is a form of carbon or charcoal that has been heated or otherwise treated to make it very adsorptive. Made from materials such as nutshells, wood or coal, it is usually available as fine black powder, granules or pellets.

Activated carbon is extremely porous and easily adsorbs gases, vapors, and particles.

Most activated carbon is made from coconut shells. The shells are heated to over 2,000 degrees Celsius under very high pressure. The high temperature creates carbon and the pressure process causes fissures to form on the carbon. This creates high quality, small pore carbon. The fissure system is vast and creates a very large surface area in a very small space. Gases and particles are trapped in these fissures.

There are many uses for activated carbon, most often in the water treatment and air filtration industries. It is also used medicinally and to purify gas and metals.

Activated carbon is vital in pollution control. It is used for spill cleanup and groundwater remediation. It can capture dangerous contaminants which may have leached into the groundwater from dry cleaning facilities and gas stations.

Water filters use activated carbon to remove organic compounds such as pesticides and benzene, impurities and chlorine from water. Other types of chemicals including sodium and nitrates are not attracted to the carbon so they pass through these types of filters.

Activated carbon water filters also improve the taste and smell of drinking water.

The activated carbon in these filters attract and bond the chemicals, so once these ‘bonding sites’ are filled, the filter must be replaced.

Activated carbon is also used in air filters. The material can capture gas molecules and hold them. Since the carbon surface is made up of millions of tiny pores, the gas and odors fall into these pores and remain trapped.

Activated carbon is used in many other industries. It is used to decolor sugar and sweeteners, produce a variety of pharmaceuticals and chemicals and improve the taste and smell of wines and fruit juices. It is incorporated into automotive vapor filters in cars and, most perhaps most interestingly, it is an additive in licorice!

Activated carbon is a vital ingredient in many industrial, commercial and consumer processes and products.