How is activated charcoal produced
Activated charcoal goes through one of two processes to become an
extremely useful product. Uses range from emergency medical supplies to
sewage treatment. While most people know very little about it lives are
made more comfortable, and even saved by activated charcoal.
If looked at under a microscope the surface of a gram of activated charcoal would look bumpy and porous. It’s this porous state that makes this tiny gram so important for so many uses since this quality causes it to bind easily with other compounds. Many undesirable chemical agents bind quickly with activated charcoal making the product ideal for air and water filters.
There are two processes which can produce activated charcoal products known as physical reactivation and chemical activation. Almost any carbonaceous material can be used to create this product such as wood, coal, or even nutshells. After treatment the source material will have a higher absorption surface area.
In producing activated carbon or charcoal through physical reactivation a combination of two processes is actually used called carbonization and activation/oxidation. In carbonization the chosen source material is held in an airless or inert atmosphere while being exposed to temperatures ranging from 600-900° C. In the activation/oxidation part of the process the material is exposed to oxidizing atmospheres such as carbon dioxide or oxygen at temperatures above 250 ° C but not higher than 1200° C.
When using chemical activation to produce activated charcoal chemicals such as phosphoric acid are infused with the source material followed by carbonization at temperatures between 450-900° C. This process is faster than physical reactivation, but it can be problematic since it’s possible for trace amounts of the chemicals used to remain in the finished product.
The result is activated charcoal which can then be put to a variety of important uses.
If looked at under a microscope the surface of a gram of activated charcoal would look bumpy and porous. It’s this porous state that makes this tiny gram so important for so many uses since this quality causes it to bind easily with other compounds. Many undesirable chemical agents bind quickly with activated charcoal making the product ideal for air and water filters.
There are two processes which can produce activated charcoal products known as physical reactivation and chemical activation. Almost any carbonaceous material can be used to create this product such as wood, coal, or even nutshells. After treatment the source material will have a higher absorption surface area.
In producing activated carbon or charcoal through physical reactivation a combination of two processes is actually used called carbonization and activation/oxidation. In carbonization the chosen source material is held in an airless or inert atmosphere while being exposed to temperatures ranging from 600-900° C. In the activation/oxidation part of the process the material is exposed to oxidizing atmospheres such as carbon dioxide or oxygen at temperatures above 250 ° C but not higher than 1200° C.
When using chemical activation to produce activated charcoal chemicals such as phosphoric acid are infused with the source material followed by carbonization at temperatures between 450-900° C. This process is faster than physical reactivation, but it can be problematic since it’s possible for trace amounts of the chemicals used to remain in the finished product.
The result is activated charcoal which can then be put to a variety of important uses.