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Activated Carbon
Activated carbon or activated charcoal is a porous element that traps compounds, primarily organic, present in a gas or liquid. It does this so effectively that it is the most widely used purifying agent by humans. It is obtained from high carbon raw materials such as charcoal, peat, lignite, bituminous coal, fruit stones (e.g. olive pits), coconut shell, etc.
The adsorptive properties of charcoal were first observed near the end of the 18th century. It was discovered that charcoal was capable of decolourizing certain liquids. This discovery led to the first industrial use of charcoal in an English sugar refinery in 1794. Later active charcoal or carbon started to be used at large scales in various purification processes.
Activated carbons have been traditionally employed as adsorbents and mostly used to absorb impurities from air, water, metals or any other material and even treatment of sewage but lately they are increasingly being used or find potential applications in the fabrication of supercapacitors and as hydrogen storage materials. Few use cases of activated carbon are -
- Water purification.
(carbon retains pesticides, greases, oils, detergents, disinfection by-products, toxins, color-producing compounds, compounds originating from the decomposition of algae and plants or from animal metabolism…).
- Deodorization and air purification.
For example: in cartridge respirators, air recirculation systems in public spaces, drain vents and water treatment plants, paint application booths, spaces that store or apply organic solvents.
- Treatment of people with acute intoxication.
Activated charcoal is considered the “most universal antidote”, and is applied in emergency rooms and hospitals.
- Sugar refining.
The charcoal retains the proteins that give color to the cane juice; the fundamental objective of this process is to prevent the sugar from fermenting and spoiling.
- Discoloration of vegetable oils.
(such as coconut). Corn glucose and other liquids intended for food.
- Discoloration and deodorization of alcoholic beverages.
(such as grape wines and distillates of any origin)
- Gold recovery.
Gold that cannot be separated from minerals by flotation processes is dissolved in sodium cyanide and adsorbed on activated carbon.
- Fabrication of supercapacitors in which activated carbon acts as electrode.
