Why is activated carbon a good adsorbent?
Activated carbon is a unique material. No other material natural or man made has all these properties and abilities: • It has the ability to adsorb some of almost any vapor. • It has a large capacity for organic molecules, especially solvents. • It adsorbs and retains a wide variety of chemicals at the same time. • It works well under a wide range of temperatures and humidity levels. • It is inert and safe to handle and use. • It is readily available and affordable. What is activated carbon? It is a material that has been treated, or activated, to increase the internal surface area to the range of 950 to 1150 square meters per gram. The internal surface area is what holds the adsorbed gases and vapors. It is where the “work” of the filter is done. The term activated charcoal is often used interchangeably with activated carbon. They refer to the same material. How does it work? The Non-technical Explanation: It starts with the gas molecule coming in contact with the surface of an activa
