What is activated carbon? Effects and where to buy activated carbon?

Activated charcoal is an artificial charcoal that brings many interesting and useful uses to users. Join Tnhelearning.edu.vn to discover what activated carbon is and how to distinguish activated carbon from regular charcoal!

What is activated carbon?

Activated carbon (also known as Activated Carbon) is a type of charcoal that has been treated at high temperatures and is usually black, porous, and light . They are derived from coal, peat or coke,… The composition of activated carbon consists of carbon atoms in the form of graphite chips or amorphous.

Activated Carbon is also known as Activated Carbon

Activated charcoal has surprising uses such as:

• Pure water
• Air Purifier
• Absorb harmful toxins
• Make a skin care mask
• Lowers cholesterol in the blood…

How to distinguish activated carbon from regular charcoal?

Based on external characteristics

Activated charcoal powder is finer and drier than regular charcoal powder

If it is ingot coal, it is impossible to distinguish between activated carbon and ordinary coal. But it’s fine in powder form.

With activated carbon, their powder form is quite fine, iridescent black, uniform granules and dry.

As for regular charcoal powder, their color is black but not bright, the powder is coarse, sometimes slightly wet and the particles are uneven.

Based on the hardness of coal

Activated carbon is harder than regular charcoal

Normally, if you look at it with your eyes, it will be difficult to distinguish activated charcoal from regular charcoal. However, you can tell them apart by the hardness of each.

Activated charcoal will be harder than regular charcoal. Therefore, if you can break a stick of charcoal, it is not activated carbon because activated carbon is very hard so it is difficult to break with bare hands .

Use water to distinguish activated carbon

Activated carbon has the ability to filter water

One of the typical uses of activated carbon as well as the difference between activated carbon and regular charcoal is the ability to filter water. Therefore, you can rely on this factor to distinguish activated carbon from regular charcoal quickly.

First, you prepare a cup of dirty water . Then put each sample of coal into a cup of water, if there is foaming and the color of the water gradually clears, it is activated carbon . On the contrary, if the glass of water has no phenomenon, it is normal coal.

Burn to identify activated carbon

Regular coal when burned is very easy to catch fire and burn

Activated carbon has been processed through very high temperatures, so it is difficult to burn under normal conditions. But regular coal is very flammable.

Therefore, to distinguish activated carbon from ordinary coal, you just need to burn them at normal temperature , if the coal catches fire and is flammable, it is normal coal, otherwise, it is activated carbon.

Based on the ability to filter chlorine

Activated carbon has the ability to filter chlorine in tap water

Tap water contains a disinfectant called chlorine with an unpleasant odor for consumers. And activated charcoal has the ability to remove this smell . Therefore, you can distinguish activated charcoal from regular charcoal based on its ability to remove the odor of chlorine in tap water.

First, you prepare two cups of tap water, then put each coal sample in 2 cups of water, then smell the smell of two cups of water. If any cup has no chlorine smell, the charcoal added to that cup is activated carbon. The opposite is normal coal.

Use electricity to identify activated carbon

Activated carbon has the ability to conduct electricity

In addition to the ability to filter water, activated carbon also has the ability to conduct electricity . You can rely on this special ability of activated carbon that distinguishes them from regular charcoal.

First, you use an electrical object such as an electric tester or a light bulb, and then let the object touch the coal . If the electrical object works, it is activated carbon, otherwise, if there is no phenomenon, it is ordinary charcoal.

Types of activated carbon available today

Tubular activated carbon

As the name suggests, tubular activated carbon is produced in a large tubular shape with a diameter of 1-5 cm depending on the type. This type of activated carbon is commonly used in industry where there is a demand from larger filtration systems.

Tubular activated carbon

Activated Charcoal Tablets

Meanwhile, activated carbon in tablet form will have a short cylindrical shape, the diameter ranges from 0.8-5mm. The inside of activated carbon tablets is very sturdy, more durable than other types and the contact surface area is also larger, so it should be used to filter toxic gases well.

Activated Charcoal Tablets

Activated carbon powder

This is a conspicuous form of activated carbon, due to its ease of production, low cost, and commonly used in cosmetics, toothpaste, chemical processing, etc. Powdered activated carbon has the size from 0.2mm to 0.5 mm should be easily washed away , so they are often used as an adjunct in alum water treatment systems, RO membranes.

Activated carbon powder

Granular activated carbon

Granular activated carbon has the size from 0.2-5mm and the shape is random and heterogeneous. This type is very hard and durable than powder form , as well as more difficult to wash off, suitable for water treatment in daily life, industrial wastewater.

Granular activated carbon

Activated carbon sheet

Activated carbon sheet is the perfect combination of sponges that have been powdered activated carbon with a shaped frame for use in air purification, you often find them in air purifiers or air conditioners.

Activated carbon sheet

Mechanism of action of activated carbon

With a structure with many small holes and cracks, activated carbon will be able to easily absorb dirt, impurities and pollutants in water and air such as: Chlorine, benzene, SO2, CO2, H2S, fine dust ,… Accordingly, these pollutants will stick to the surface of the activated carbon, the larger the contact surface, the higher the filtration efficiency.

Mechanism of action of activated carbon

What does activated charcoal do?

Use filtered water to drink

Among the effects of activated carbon, used to treat drinking water is the most widely used, whereby activated carbon will be able to remove heavy metals, fluoride, scum, impurities and other substances. chemicals, organic matter, etc. to make the water cleaner and fresher before drinking.

Use filtered water to drink

Use detoxification in medicine

For health, activated charcoal has the effect of treating diseases such as: fullness, diarrhea, stomach pain, detoxification, … thanks to its properties of absorbing toxins in the body and excreting it. outside.

In particular, activated carbon is used a lot in gas masks to help protect the respiratory system.

Use activated charcoal to whiten teeth

One effect of activated charcoal that is applied by many people is teeth whitening with activated charcoal powder. Thanks to the carbon content, activated charcoal has the effect of whitening teeth by gentle abrasion, without affecting tooth enamel.

Use activated charcoal to whiten teeth

Used to lower blood cholesterol

Thanks to its cholesterol-binding properties and cholesterol-containing bile acids in the intestines, activated charcoal can effectively prevent cholesterol absorption.

Through research, when using 24g of activated charcoal per day, maintained for 4 weeks will contribute to a 25% reduction in cholesterol, an 8% decrease in HDL, and a 25% reduction in LDL.

Used in exhaust gas treatment, deodorization

Activated carbon of all kinds is often used in kitchen deodorizers, air purifiers, air conditioners, … to treat odors, kill bacteria, and waste water in a fresh, safe way for health. .

Used in exhaust gas treatment, deodorization

Used in industry

In metal processing steps, activated carbon is often used in the final step, especially in refining electroplating solutions. On the other hand, activated carbon is also used in the mining industry of gold, silver and precious metals.

Some other apps

In addition, activated carbon is also used in a number of cosmetics, bath oils, cleansers, toothpastes, masks, etc. to absorb dirt from the body and eliminate toxins quickly.

Questions about activated carbon

Where to buy activated carbon?

You can find activated carbon at water filtration stores, or order it on e-commerce sites, which are now available for sale with a variety of types and different prices.

Therefore, you need to pay attention to choose to buy from reputable and quality places!

Where to buy activated carbon?

How to make activated charcoal?

You can easily make activated carbon from natural ingredients such as rice, you just need to roast the burnt black rice in a pan and then pound it to get activated carbon to use gradually.

How to make activated charcoal?

Is activated charcoal safe?

Basically, activated charcoal is considered safe in many cases . Some side effects occur when using activated charcoal overdose, leading to bloating, vomiting, especially when used with sorbitol, intestinal obstruction, …

Therefore, you should not arbitrarily use activated charcoal but consult your doctor and be cautious when using it.

Above is information about activated carbon and how to distinguish this type of charcoal from ordinary charcoal. Hope this information is useful to you. Wishing you much health!

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