Formation of activated charcoal from the start like hardwood or from the charcoal is a long and tedious process. If you don’t find the charcoal then you have to make it first which also has some specific steps. If you already contain charcoal then you can skip the charcoal formation process guided in the article on how to make activated charcoal at home and jump to the activation process.
The difference between activated and normal charcoal depends on the holes present on the charcoal surface. The basic material is the same however, the activated charcoal is treated with chemicals to change the structure of the normal charcoal to get extra benefits from the normal charcoal besides burning them while grilling.
Difference between Activated and Normal Charcoal
The word activated is added to the charcoal having a large surface area for adsorption. It is physically or chemically treated to increase the surface area by making it porous for adsorbing smell, cleaning water, and treating acute poisoning. The capability of adsorption increases when we ground it to powdered form because small sizes have a large area for impact.
Non-activated charcoal is normal charcoal formed from hardwood or by burning in a low amount of oxygen. It is in the form of large pieces for grilling food on a grill. It is not porous compared to activated charcoal however, it can absorb smell and helps in purification.
Does Activated Charcoal Expire?
Activation means increasing the surface area of normal charcoal through different processes. If you let the activated charcoal without storing it properly, it will adsorb the chemicals from the atmosphere, the microscopic holes get filled and the ability decreases.
However, the word expires doesn’t suit the activated charcoal because it loses its ability that will be regained if placed in bright sunlight. If you store the activated charcoal in an airtight container it will work till you use it for your needs. It will not interact with the outer atmosphere and will be activated till the next use.
Characteristics of Activated Carbon
High Surface Area
Activated charcoal has millions of pores giving it a high surface area for absorption. A single gram of activated carbon has more than 1,000 square meters. This wide area makes it ideal for adsorbing and removing chemicals and odors from the atmosphere.
According to UF|IFAS activated charcoal has a greater ability to absorb organic chemicals and a gram of it can adsorb 100 to 200 times more impurities.
Adsorption:
Activated charcoal works by adsorption and sticking the particles to the surface of carbon through the holes created during physical or chemical conversion. It is not specifically used for removing odors but is also used in water purification, chemical removal, and even in eliminating poison from the human body.
Versatility:
The versatility of activated charcoal comes from the vast variety of materials from which they are made. Some commonly used carbon-rich substances are hardwood, coconut shell, coal, and peat. These matters are processed through a procedure like heating in the presence of gases to make a huge surface area for adsorption.
Making Charcoal from Hardwood
1. Build a fire
Charcoal making is not is easy process and it takes a long time and proper setup to get a good quality charcoal. It is burned at a high temperature and in the absence of air. It is better to burn the wood in an open area so the smoke and gases will not build up in the closed area and prove fatal to health. Make a proper setup because burning the hardwood is not easy and the weather and air make it hard to burn outside.
2. Add Hardwood in a Metallic Pot
Take a big metal pot to burn the hardwood in it. The pot must have a lid because it is impossible to make charcoal without restricting the air while burning. If the pot has a hole it’s better else you have to make a small hole to release the gases produced while burning the hardwood. Hardwood is the first choice for making charcoal because it gives better quality coals however, you can use coconut shells, peat, or any dense fibrous plant pieces.
3. Cook the Wood for 3 to 5 Hours
Add the dry pieces of fibrous materials from which you are making charcoals. Close the lid and place it on the fire, let it burn for 3 to 5 hours. The fire will burn the materials and the gases produced while burning will be removed through the hole till the formation of charcoal. When no fumes come from the hole, freshly baked charcoal is formed from the fibrous material.
4. Wash the Charcoals
When no fumes or smoke are coming from the pot, put out the fire and let the metallic pot cool down. It will take time to cool down because of the metal and the converted hardwood present in the metal. when it cools down wash the coals to remove the ashes and the debris that are formed while burning the coals.
5. Allow them to Dry
Once you wash the coals and remove the debris from the coals, let them dry. Water is absorbed by the charcoals while washing and it is necessary to dry it properly before going further for grilling or converting them to activated charcoals.
Make Activated Charcoal at Home
1. Ground the Coals
The first step is to ground the coals into powder form because it is easy to handle and works more efficiently. If you have a grinder then it will be easy to ground the coals else take a plastic bag or a mortar and pestle and start grinding it till fine powder.
2. Use Calcium Chloride
Calcium chloride is a chemical and is easily available in the market. Take precautionary measures because it gets hot enough when comes in contact with water. You have to make a solution of calcium chloride in water while guessing the amount of charcoal powder you have.
The estimation of calcium chloride and water is 1:3 so for 1 gram of calcium chloride, you can take 3 ml of water. The correct way to dissolve the chemical in water is to take water in a bowl and add the chemical bit by bit.
3. Bleach or Lemon Juice
If you didn’t find calcium chloride the alternatives are also available that are none other than kitchen products. You can use bleach or lemon juice in the same quantity: 1 gram for 3ml of water. Make a mixture and stir it for better dissolving.
4. Start Mixing Both
Pour the dry powdered coals into a glass bowl and add the liquid solution while taking proper precautions. Stir it till you pour the whole liquid so you will not get solid balls of undissolved charcoals. Add the liquid till you get a paste-like solution of completely dissolved powder. Stop adding more water, cover the mixture, and let it sit untouched for 24 hours.
5. Remove the Surface Liquid
After 24 hours take the bowl and remove the surface liquid till you come up with the muddy mixture of coal powder. At this time the calcium chloride or the bleach or lemon juice makes enough holes in the charcoals. Now it the time to saturate the coals by heating them on a high flame.
6. Heat the Mixture
The mixture is still in the form of clay so put it in a metallic pot and heat it. It will take 3 or more hours to remove the remaining moisture from the mixture at a high temperature and you will get powdered activated charcoals.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to use a filter to remove water from charcoal and chemical mixture?
If you have limited time or don’t want to waste the charcoal while removing water from the mixture, you can use a filter. Take a clean filter and fix it in a glass or blow and try to pour the mixture in it. In this way, you will get almost dried powdered charcoal even though you have to heat it at a high temperature to get completely dried activated charcoals.
What temperature and time are needed to make activated charcoals?
When you remove the calcium chloride liquid from the charcoal mixture, pour the charcoal into a metallic pot. Place the pot on a heating source at approximately 225 degrees F for 30 minutes. This temperature and duration will evaporate water from the mixture and you will get dry activated charcoal powder.
Conclusion
Making charcoal at home is a bit tough but you will enjoy the easy process. It is time-consuming when you are making charcoals from hardwood. However, if you make activated coals from charcoal then the patience and care will be less. Ground the coals to a fine powder because it works better and mix it with calcium chloride dissolved in water.
Pour the water after 24 hours, and heat the mixture to a high temperature to remove the remaining water. it gives you an activated charcoal powder that you can use for medical purposes or for removing chemicals from water and air. The adsorption capabilities of activated charcoal are so high that can remove the smell from the room or house easily.