El proceso del carbón activado se basa en producir un carbón a partir de materiales como: cortezas de almendras, cáscara de coco, turba, petróleo, brea y polímeros, nueces, palmeras u otras maderas, y carbón mineral.

Este proceso se puede dividir en dos tipos:.

El tipo de material con el que se produce el carbón activado afecta el tamaño de los poros y las características de regeneración del carbón activado. Los dos tipos de clasificación son: carbón activado en polvo, con diámetro menor o igual a 0.25mm y el carbón granular, con diámetro superior a los 0.25mm. Su área superficial y su volumen de poro, lo hacen altamente competitivo en la búsqueda de tecnologías verdes.

Por ejemplo, la cáscara de la naranja al ser un material lignocelulósico consta de cierto porcentaje de humedad, por lo cual, la carbonización debe ajustar un secado a determinado tiempo para la obtención de este material. Los métodos para la producción u obtención de estos materiales de carácter natural, suele darse por impregnación química o física. La finalidad de estos materiales se basa en la adsorción de gases debido al tamaño de poro, su poro con un radio entre 2-50 nm.[3]​.

Los tamaños de los poros van desde los más pequeños, llamados microporos (hasta 2.0 nm), hasta los mesoporos (de 2.0 a 50 nm) y macroporos (mayores de 50 nm).

Thermal reactivation

Saturated activated carbon can be thermally reactivated through a high temperature process (up to 900 °C), for example in rotary kilns or multistage kilns.[4] Thanks to modern and efficient gas treatments, saturated activated carbon, from different applications, can be recycled.

The entire reactivation process includes the following steps:

During the reaction of amorphous carbon with high-temperature steam to carbon monoxide (CO) and, subsequently, carbon dioxide (CO), micropores are formed that will give the active carbon a large specific surface area.

Through the rational use of natural resources, the reactivation of activated carbon reduces CO emissions into the atmosphere by 80%.

medical use

Activated charcoal is used as an adsorbent agent to treat poisoning and overdose due to oral ingestion. Prevents the absorption of the toxic substance in the stomach. The typical dosage for an adult is 1 g/kg within the first hour of poisoning, with a maximum limit of 100 g total. Pediatric doses are 12-25 g (1 g/kg). For drugs with enterohepatic circulation such as carbamazepine, digoxin, morphine, among others, it is suggested to administer activated charcoal in multiple doses (0.5 g/kg every 4 hours for 24 to 48 hours).

If possible, combine it with some juice or flavored liquid to avoid the bad taste of activated charcoal and so the patient does not vomit it. Incorrect use of this product can cause bronchoaspiration (entry into the lungs) and can lead to a fatal outcome if not controlled. For use outside the hospital, it comes in 1 g tablets, or in tubes or plastic bottles, commonly 12.5 or 25 g, premixed with water. It has trade names like InstaChar, SuperChar, Actidose, and Liqui-Socarra, but it is usually simply called activated charcoal.

During recent years, activated charcoal has become a "magic remedy" for losing weight; a supposedly detox food that has come to the news spotlight and has become a real fad with the consequent dangers that this implies. In fact, the adsorption capacity of activated charcoal is unable to distinguish between harmful and beneficial substances, so it is possible that it ends up blocking the absorption of certain vitamins and minerals that the body needs to function with frequent consumption. Excessive consumption can also cause constipation, intestinal blockages and other more serious problems. However, the European Community and the American FDA consider it as a food supplement.

Another of its most widespread uses is teeth whitening. However, there is no scientific evidence that it is beneficial for this purpose and, in fact, experts suggest that whitening is due to the abrasion of the microparticles on the enamel. These - like the substances contained in other home remedies such as baking soda or lemon - weaken the structure of the tooth and can cause permanent damage to the dentin if used regularly.

Filters for air, compressed gas and purify water

Filters with activated carbon are generally used in the purification of air, water and gases, to remove oil vapors, flavors, odors and other hydrocarbons from air and compressed gases.

The most common designs use single- or two-stage filters, where activated carbon is introduced as a filter medium. An example could be the filter that cigarettes have. It is also used for purifying rainwater in areas where it is used for domestic purposes.

For its application in water treatment, 1 to 3 cubic feet (approximately 30 to 90 cubic decimeters) of activated carbon are required to treat 1 million liters of water, as long as the concentration of free chlorine is equal to or less than 1 ppm (part per million).

There are activated carbon filters to which silver is added so that bacteria do not develop in it, according to the antiviral and antibacterial properties of colloidal silver. Filters with smaller activated carbon particles generally have a better adsorption rate.

On the other hand, the acidity and temperature of the water to be filtered influence the behavior of the activated carbon filter. At higher acidity and lower water temperatures, the performance of activated carbon filters improves. Asbestos cannot be removed from water through an activated carbon filter.

An activated carbon filter must be replaced between every 2,800 and 3,750 liters of filtered water, which is only a reference since the filtration capacity and life of the filter will depend on the quality of the water that is filtered. The pore size of the activated carbon and the size of the particles to be filtered also influence the life and filtration capacity of the activated carbon filter.

Therefore, the only way to know if an activated carbon filter has stopped working is to analyze the water resulting from the filter, since neither the taste nor the smell can be an accurate reference. Once an activated carbon filter has been saturated, the water that passes through it will be more contaminated than if it were not filtered.

Activated carbon filters that are placed at the end of the faucet have inferior performance compared to those placed under the sink or sink due to the small volume of activated carbon they contain. It is also recommended to replace activated carbon filters at twice the rate recommended by manufacturers. Filters that "warn" when to change the filter are inaccurate and saturation and subsequent contamination of the water can occur long before the warning is given.

Catalyst agent

Activated carbon is a very versatile adsorbent due to its distribution and pore size. Its main application is in the elimination of impurities from gases and liquids; It has been established that said elimination takes place through an adsorption process. The surface of the activated carbon can trap the molecules of the gas or liquid phase through predominantly physical forces (Van der Waals type), causing a high concentration on its surface.

A clear example of a reaction through the implementation of activated carbon is the hexaaminocobalt(III) complex ([Co(NH)]), which is thermodynamically unstable in acidic solutions and its reaction equilibrium constant is around 1x10. At equilibrium, the concentration of [Co(NH)] is very low so the reaction can take days to complete, that is, it is an inert complex that undergoes very slow change reactions. Due to its characteristics, the complex has a very low concentration, so adding active carbon will favor the concentration of the complex to considerably reduce the reaction time, consequently accelerating the process without altering its chemical properties.[5]​.

They are excellent acid catalysts since they are easy to convert with a sustainable economic investment. It is oxidized in the presence of water, favoring the formation of oxygenated and hydrogenated groups (carboxyls). In this type of catalysis it is common for the specific surface area of ​​the activated carbon to decrease without affecting the catalysis.

The point of zero charge (PCC) of these materials depends on the original activated carbon and the acid used, but not on the number of existing acidic functional groups, demonstrating that the type of functional group is more important than their number. One of these reactions has been the alkylation of nitrogenous heterocycles.[6]​.

Catalysis in this case usually has an alkaline action. The activated carbon is put into action with a solution of an alkali metal salt corresponding to the cations (Na, K and Cs), which causes the carbon to undergo little variation in its physical structure, but not in its chemical properties.

The heavier the alkali element, the greater the basicity of the catalyst, which is directly related to its catalytic activity.[6]​.

Environmental uses

The adsorption properties of activated carbon are very useful in removing contaminants from the air and from water flows involved in industrial processes:

El proceso del carbón activado se basa en producir un carbón a partir de materiales como: cortezas de almendras, cáscara de coco, turba, petróleo, brea y polímeros, nueces, palmeras u otras maderas, y carbón mineral.

Este proceso se puede dividir en dos tipos:.

El tipo de material con el que se produce el carbón activado afecta el tamaño de los poros y las características de regeneración del carbón activado. Los dos tipos de clasificación son: carbón activado en polvo, con diámetro menor o igual a 0.25mm y el carbón granular, con diámetro superior a los 0.25mm. Su área superficial y su volumen de poro, lo hacen altamente competitivo en la búsqueda de tecnologías verdes.

Por ejemplo, la cáscara de la naranja al ser un material lignocelulósico consta de cierto porcentaje de humedad, por lo cual, la carbonización debe ajustar un secado a determinado tiempo para la obtención de este material. Los métodos para la producción u obtención de estos materiales de carácter natural, suele darse por impregnación química o física. La finalidad de estos materiales se basa en la adsorción de gases debido al tamaño de poro, su poro con un radio entre 2-50 nm.[3]​.

Los tamaños de los poros van desde los más pequeños, llamados microporos (hasta 2.0 nm), hasta los mesoporos (de 2.0 a 50 nm) y macroporos (mayores de 50 nm).

Thermal reactivation

Saturated activated carbon can be thermally reactivated through a high temperature process (up to 900 °C), for example in rotary kilns or multistage kilns.[4] Thanks to modern and efficient gas treatments, saturated activated carbon, from different applications, can be recycled.

The entire reactivation process includes the following steps:

During the reaction of amorphous carbon with high-temperature steam to carbon monoxide (CO) and, subsequently, carbon dioxide (CO), micropores are formed that will give the active carbon a large specific surface area.

Through the rational use of natural resources, the reactivation of activated carbon reduces CO emissions into the atmosphere by 80%.

medical use

Activated charcoal is used as an adsorbent agent to treat poisoning and overdose due to oral ingestion. Prevents the absorption of the toxic substance in the stomach. The typical dosage for an adult is 1 g/kg within the first hour of poisoning, with a maximum limit of 100 g total. Pediatric doses are 12-25 g (1 g/kg). For drugs with enterohepatic circulation such as carbamazepine, digoxin, morphine, among others, it is suggested to administer activated charcoal in multiple doses (0.5 g/kg every 4 hours for 24 to 48 hours).

If possible, combine it with some juice or flavored liquid to avoid the bad taste of activated charcoal and so the patient does not vomit it. Incorrect use of this product can cause bronchoaspiration (entry into the lungs) and can lead to a fatal outcome if not controlled. For use outside the hospital, it comes in 1 g tablets, or in tubes or plastic bottles, commonly 12.5 or 25 g, premixed with water. It has trade names like InstaChar, SuperChar, Actidose, and Liqui-Socarra, but it is usually simply called activated charcoal.

During recent years, activated charcoal has become a "magic remedy" for losing weight; a supposedly detox food that has come to the news spotlight and has become a real fad with the consequent dangers that this implies. In fact, the adsorption capacity of activated charcoal is unable to distinguish between harmful and beneficial substances, so it is possible that it ends up blocking the absorption of certain vitamins and minerals that the body needs to function with frequent consumption. Excessive consumption can also cause constipation, intestinal blockages and other more serious problems. However, the European Community and the American FDA consider it as a food supplement.

Another of its most widespread uses is teeth whitening. However, there is no scientific evidence that it is beneficial for this purpose and, in fact, experts suggest that whitening is due to the abrasion of the microparticles on the enamel. These - like the substances contained in other home remedies such as baking soda or lemon - weaken the structure of the tooth and can cause permanent damage to the dentin if used regularly.

Filters for air, compressed gas and purify water

Filters with activated carbon are generally used in the purification of air, water and gases, to remove oil vapors, flavors, odors and other hydrocarbons from air and compressed gases.

The most common designs use single- or two-stage filters, where activated carbon is introduced as a filter medium. An example could be the filter that cigarettes have. It is also used for purifying rainwater in areas where it is used for domestic purposes.

For its application in water treatment, 1 to 3 cubic feet (approximately 30 to 90 cubic decimeters) of activated carbon are required to treat 1 million liters of water, as long as the concentration of free chlorine is equal to or less than 1 ppm (part per million).

There are activated carbon filters to which silver is added so that bacteria do not develop in it, according to the antiviral and antibacterial properties of colloidal silver. Filters with smaller activated carbon particles generally have a better adsorption rate.

On the other hand, the acidity and temperature of the water to be filtered influence the behavior of the activated carbon filter. At higher acidity and lower water temperatures, the performance of activated carbon filters improves. Asbestos cannot be removed from water through an activated carbon filter.

An activated carbon filter must be replaced between every 2,800 and 3,750 liters of filtered water, which is only a reference since the filtration capacity and life of the filter will depend on the quality of the water that is filtered. The pore size of the activated carbon and the size of the particles to be filtered also influence the life and filtration capacity of the activated carbon filter.

Therefore, the only way to know if an activated carbon filter has stopped working is to analyze the water resulting from the filter, since neither the taste nor the smell can be an accurate reference. Once an activated carbon filter has been saturated, the water that passes through it will be more contaminated than if it were not filtered.

Activated carbon filters that are placed at the end of the faucet have inferior performance compared to those placed under the sink or sink due to the small volume of activated carbon they contain. It is also recommended to replace activated carbon filters at twice the rate recommended by manufacturers. Filters that "warn" when to change the filter are inaccurate and saturation and subsequent contamination of the water can occur long before the warning is given.

Catalyst agent

Activated carbon is a very versatile adsorbent due to its distribution and pore size. Its main application is in the elimination of impurities from gases and liquids; It has been established that said elimination takes place through an adsorption process. The surface of the activated carbon can trap the molecules of the gas or liquid phase through predominantly physical forces (Van der Waals type), causing a high concentration on its surface.

A clear example of a reaction through the implementation of activated carbon is the hexaaminocobalt(III) complex ([Co(NH)]), which is thermodynamically unstable in acidic solutions and its reaction equilibrium constant is around 1x10. At equilibrium, the concentration of [Co(NH)] is very low so the reaction can take days to complete, that is, it is an inert complex that undergoes very slow change reactions. Due to its characteristics, the complex has a very low concentration, so adding active carbon will favor the concentration of the complex to considerably reduce the reaction time, consequently accelerating the process without altering its chemical properties.[5]​.

They are excellent acid catalysts since they are easy to convert with a sustainable economic investment. It is oxidized in the presence of water, favoring the formation of oxygenated and hydrogenated groups (carboxyls). In this type of catalysis it is common for the specific surface area of ​​the activated carbon to decrease without affecting the catalysis.

The point of zero charge (PCC) of these materials depends on the original activated carbon and the acid used, but not on the number of existing acidic functional groups, demonstrating that the type of functional group is more important than their number. One of these reactions has been the alkylation of nitrogenous heterocycles.[6]​.

Catalysis in this case usually has an alkaline action. The activated carbon is put into action with a solution of an alkali metal salt corresponding to the cations (Na, K and Cs), which causes the carbon to undergo little variation in its physical structure, but not in its chemical properties.

The heavier the alkali element, the greater the basicity of the catalyst, which is directly related to its catalytic activity.[6]​.

Environmental uses

The adsorption properties of activated carbon are very useful in removing contaminants from the air and from water flows involved in industrial processes: