Activated charcoal is a sponge-like substance that is made from different carbon-containing substances of natural origin. Activated Charcoal is charcoal that has been treated with oxygen. The treatment results in a highly porous charcoal. It is made at very high temperatures and as a result, activated charcoal is a substance which is almost one hundred percent composed of carbon.
[u]granular activated carbon[/u] The chemical composition of charcoal is very similar to graphite. Useful properties of activated charcoal can be contributed to the huge number of pores and hence activated charcoal exhibits very high absorbent and catalytic properties.
Activated carbon is used in methane and hydrogen storage, air purification, decaffeination, gold purification, metal extraction, water purification, medicine, sewage treatment, air filters in gas masks and respirators, filters in compressed air, teeth whitening, and many other applications.
Activated carbon industrial application
One major industrial application involves use of activated carbon in metal finishing for purification of electroplating solutions. For example, it is the main purification technique for removing organic impurities from bright nickel plating solutions. A variety of organic chemicals are added to plating solutions for improving their deposit qualities and for enhancing properties like brightness, smoothness, ductility, etc. Due to passage of direct current and electrolytic reactions of anodic oxidation and cathodic reduction, organic additives generate unwanted breakdown products in solution. Their excessive build up can adversely affect plating quality and physical properties of deposited metal. Activated carbon treatment removes such impurities and restores plating performance to the desired level.
Medical uses
Activated carbon is used to treat poisonings and overdoses following oral ingestion. Tablets or capsules of activated carbon are used in many countries as an over-the-counter drug to treat diarrhea, indigestion, and flatulence.
However, activated charcoal shows no effect of intestinal gas and diarrhea, and is, ordinarily, medically ineffective if poisoning resulted from ingestion of corrosive agents such as alkalis and strong acids, iron, boric acid, lithium, petroleum products, or alcohol. Activated carbon will not prevent these chemicals from being absorbed into the human body.
It is particularly ineffective against poisonings of strong acids or alkali, cyanide, iron, lithium, arsenic, methanol, ethanol or ethylene glycol.Incorrect application (e.g. into the lungs) results in pulmonary aspiration, which can sometimes be fatal if immediate medical treatment is not initiated.
Activated Charcoal is a powerful tool for emergency cleansing of the gastrointestinal tract, perhaps the most effective remedy known today. It can be used in cases of poisoning from virtually any toxic substance. Activated charcoal reduces the absorption of poisonous substances up to 60%.One teaspoon of activated charcoal has a surface area of approximately 10 000 square feet. It adsorbs and helps eliminate toxins, heavy metals, chemicals, pharmaceutical drugs, morphine, pesticides from your body.
[u]activated carbon price[/u] Benefits of Activated Charcoal and Its Uses:
l Poisoning by various chemical substances, drugs, toxic heavy metals, alkaloids
l Overall body detoxification
l Food poisoning
l Treating stomach pain caused by excess gas, diarrhea, or indigestion.
l Body odor and bad breath
l Hepatitis: chronic and acute viral
l Withdrawal syndrome (as a rule, is used for drinking, not for drug addiction)
l Intoxication caused by chemotherapy or radiotherapy
l Various skin ailments
l Inflammation
l Helps lower cholesterol, triglycerides and lipids found in the blood.
