Activated carbon is a material derived mostly from charcoal that has been treated with oxygen creating many

tiny pores between the carbon atoms. Production of activated carbon comes from different carbonaceous materials like coal, wood, coconut shells, etc. Two types of activated carbon production are physical reactivation and chemical activation.

Zoomed images of Carbon Surface and Pores (zoom increases left to right)

Different Types of Activated Carbon Properties

Property Micropore Macropore Hardness Ash

Coconut Activated Carbon

high low high 5% high low good 0.48 g/cc 1100

Coal Activated Carbon high medium high 10% low medium good 0.48 g/cc 1000

Lignite Activated Carbon

medium high low 20% high high poor 0.4 g/cc 600

Wood Activated Carbon (Powder)

low high n/a 5% medium n/a none 0.35 g/cc 1000

Water Soluble Ash

Dust Reactivation Apparent Density Iodine No.

http://www.carbochem.com/activatedcarbon101.html#Types

Water treatment Air treatment Gas purification Gold purification Metal extraction Medicine Sewage treatment Gas masks Filter masks

References
http://www.carbochem.com/activatedcarbon101. html#Types http://www.howstuffworks.com/framed.htm?pare nt=question209.htm&url=http://www.ext.nodak.e du/extpubs/h2oqual/watsys/ae1029w.htm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Activated_carbon http://www.cee.vt.edu/ewr/environmental/teach/ wtprimer/carbon/sketcarb.html

Carbonized coconut

Activated coconut