How to make activated carbon from birch charcoal. What is activated carbon made from?

Activated carbon, sometimes called carbolene, is used to purify dirty water or polluted air. In emergency situations, activated carbon is used to remove dangerous toxins and poisons from the body. Before preparing activated carbon, you need to make charcoal at home by burning wood or fibrous plant material. After this, activating chemicals such as calcium chloride or lemon juice can be added to complete the process.

Steps

Part 1

Light a small fire in a safe place. The easiest way to make charcoal is to start a fire outside, but you can also do this in your home fireplace (if you have one). The fire must be intense enough to burn all the wood.

• When working with fire, take safety precautions and always keep a fire extinguisher handy.

1. Place small hardwood chips into a metal pot. If you don't have suitable wood, you can substitute any dense, fibrous plant-based material, such as coconut shells. Place the wood or plant material in a metal cauldron and cover it with a lid.

   Heat the pot over an open fire for 3-5 hours to create charcoal. Place the covered pot on the fire. During cooking, you will see smoke and gas escaping through the holes in the lid. All unnecessary substances are removed along with the smoke, and only clean coal remains in the boiler.

   Rinse the cooled charcoal with water. The coal in the pot remains hot for some time. Let it cool for some time. When the charcoal is cool to the touch, transfer it to a clean container and rinse it in cool water to remove any ash or other debris. Then drain all the water.

   Crush the coal. Place the washed charcoal in a mortar and pestle until it becomes a fine powder. You can also place it in a heavy-duty plastic bag and grind it into a powder using a wooden chopstick or large mallet.

   Wait until the charcoal powder is completely dry. If you used the plastic bag method, pour the powder into a clean bowl. Otherwise, leave it in the mortar. After about a day, the powder will dry completely.

   Mix the calcium chloride solution with wood powder. Place the dry wood powder into a glass or stainless steel bowl. Add calcium chloride solution (lemon juice or bleach) to the powder in small portions, stirring constantly with a spoon.

   Cover the bowl and wait 24 hours. Cover the bowl and let the mixture sit. After this, drain as much liquid as possible from the bowl. At this point the charcoal will still be moist but not wet.

   Activation of the carbon will take another 3 hours. Transfer the coal back to the metal pot (cleaned) and place on the fire. The fire must be intense enough to bring the water needed to activate the charcoal to a boil. After 3 hours of boiling at the same temperature, the activated carbon will be ready.

Part 3

Clean the air in your home. Wrap a small amount of activated carbon in a piece of sheet and place it in the desired location. If you don't have a sheet, use a thick, breathable fabric such as cotton.

Build a charcoal water filter using a sock. Store-bought water filters are usually quite expensive, but you can build your own filter and get the same results using a cheaper method. Take a clean sock that doesn't smell like laundry detergent or bleach and put activated charcoal in it. Now you can purify the water by filtering it through a sock.

Prepare a clay face mask with activated charcoal. Take a small bowl and add 30 milligrams of bentonite clay, 2.5 milligrams of activated charcoal, 15 milligrams of turmeric, 30 milliliters of apple cider vinegar and 5 milliliters of honey. Then start adding water to the mixture little by little until you get a smooth paste.

Relieve bloating and gas with activated charcoal. Add 500 milligrams of powdered activated carbon to 350 milliliters of water. Drink this mixture before eating foods that cause bloating or to combat symptoms when you experience excess gas in your intestines.

Activated carbon is a porous substance that is obtained from various carbon-containing materials of organic origin.

1 gram of activated carbon, depending on the manufacturing technology, has a surface area from 500 to 1500 m² [the surface area of ​​ordinary carbon is 50 m²].
The essence of the activation process is the opening of pores that are in a closed state in the carbon material.

The determining influence on the pore structure is exerted by the starting materials for their production. Activated carbons based on coconut shells are characterized by a larger proportion of micropores (up to 2 nm), while those based on coal are characterized by a larger proportion of mesopores (2-50 nm). A large proportion of macropores is characteristic of wood-based activated carbons (more than 50 nm).

Micropores are particularly well suited for the adsorption of small sized molecules, while mesopores are particularly well suited for the adsorption of larger organic molecules.

*Coals must be treated with superheated steam at 600 to 850 degrees. The design should consist of two flasks, one of which is filled with raw materials (birch firewood without bark, finely chopped, the smaller the better) and water is poured into the other. Close the flask with the raw material as tightly as possible and place it in the fire. Burn until all the raw materials turn into coals. Next, take the second flask and connect it to the first (with coals) flask using a metal coil. Pour water into the second flask. Light a fire under a flask of water and a coil. In a flask with water, the water will boil and the steam through the coil, which splits in the fire, enters the flask with the coals that have not yet cooled down, thereby still heating up. To produce 1 part of coal, you need ~5 parts of birch raw materials.

*Get a container the size of a coffee can with an airtight metal lid. Take a few birch twigs, put them in a coffee can and put them in the fire. After the fire burns out, you need to wait for the coal to cool. Pour the resulting charcoal onto gauze, tie it in a bag and hold it over water vapor for 5-10 minutes to activate the charcoal; as a result of this treatment, it acquires a porous structure, and all pores are cleared of all liquid and not-so-liquid substances. The resulting charcoal must be stored in an airtight container, otherwise it will lose its properties.


Using this technique, it is possible to obtain activated carbon, of course, for ideal activated carbon you need a temperature of superheated water vapor from 300 to 600 degrees. But it will be quite enough to filter water.

*For the production of activated carbon, trees of various species are used: beech, birch, pine, linden, oak, spruce, aspen, alder, poplar. In accordance with the listed order, the adsorbing capacity of coal made from these tree species. Tree trunks should not be older than 50 years.

The wood must be cleared of bark, knots and core. The logs prepared in this way are burned on the fire until the fire disappears. In the fire, there will be hot coals in place of the wood.

After removing the coals from the fire, place them in a colander. After this, the hot coals are treated with steam, for which you need to hold a colander over a bowl of boiling water. You cannot put coals in water. When the coal has completely cooled down, you need to crush it and put it in storage. It should be stored in a closed container, placed in a dry place, away from substances that produce gases or vapors. In air or in a place with high humidity, the adsorbing properties of activated carbon are significantly reduced.

*Place small birch sticks in a frying pan, cover with a small layer of sand and keep on the fire for two hours. You can do the same procedure at a fire in a jar.

Activated carbon (Carbonis activati) has been known since very ancient times. Mentions of it are found even in ancient Indian scriptures, where it is recommended to pass water through coal to purify it. The beneficial qualities of coal were also known to the ancient Greeks, who used it to purify not only water, but also beer and wine.

In Ancient Egypt in the 15th century BC. e. charcoal has already been used for medicinal purposes. In Europe, the adsorbing properties of coal were noticed only in the 18th century. It was then scientifically established that charcoal can absorb gases and discolor liquids. In the next century, charcoal began to be used in France to decolorize sugar syrups.

However, mass industrial production of activated carbon began only at the beginning of the 20th century. The first batch of powdered coal was produced in 1909. In Russia, activated carbon was used to filter water from Borjomi mineral springs.

During World War I, the Army introduced gas masks that used activated carbon made from coconut shells.

Nowadays, activated carbon with high adsorbing capacity is made from coconut shells. Activated carbon is an odorless, tasteless black powder that is insoluble in common solvents. Currently, there are many types of activated carbon, which are widely used in various areas of life, including in medicine.

The drug is obtained from wood by dry distillation. For this purpose, trees of various species are used: beech, birch, pine, linden, oak, spruce, aspen, alder, poplar.

In accordance with the above order, the adsorbing capacity of charcoal made from these tree species decreases.

You can make your own activated carbon. For this purpose, tree trunks no older than 50 years are used. The wood must be cleared of bark, knots and core. The logs prepared in this way are burned on the fire until the fire disappears. In the fire, there will be hot coals in place of the wood. Typically, potatoes are baked on such coals or kebabs are cooked.

Now you need to select larger coals from the fire, shake off dust and ash from them and place them in a pre-prepared container, then close them tightly. When the coals in the bowl have cooled, they can be taken out and, again cleaned of coal dust, crushed in a mortar to not too fine granules. Then the resulting cereal must be sifted. Activated carbon is ready for use.

Trees used to produce activated carbon:

To get the best quality activated carbon, you need to remove the coals from the fire and place them in a colander. After this, the hot coals are treated with steam, for which you need to hold a colander over a bowl of boiling water. You cannot put coals in water. When the coal has completely cooled down, you need to crush it and put it in storage.

It should be stored in a closed container, placed in a dry place, away from substances that produce gases or vapors. In air or in a place with high humidity, the adsorbing properties of activated carbon are significantly reduced.

Carbon produced in this way can be used to filter water or alcoholic beverages.

Due to its high adsorbing capacity and high surface activity, activated carbon is widely used in the treatment of diseases. It is used for acute poisoning with alkaloids or salts of heavy metals, food intoxication, dyspepsia, flatulence, increased acidity and hypersecretion of gastric juice, as well as for infections and diseases of the gastrointestinal tract (gastrointestinal tract), accompanied by processes of rotting and fermentation.

Practical publication “Treatment with activated carbon”

Cases when it is necessary to purify moonshine happen quite often. As a rule, sugar, starch and some grain distillates are purified. Often this question arises when it has to, and the distillate is not of quite decent quality. Distillers also practice purification of raw alcohol before re-distilling it. And even if you happen to have (we recommend choosing a device with a distillation column of the brand or with a steam steamer of the brand) of high quality, cleaning may be required to save the situation in case of gross violations of the distillation technology.

The practice of purifying moonshine with activated charcoal is widely known. Natural charcoal is an excellent sorbent: it traps and retains a wide variety of molecules in solution. You can prepare charcoal for cleaning moonshine right in your kitchen. More precisely, charcoal can be activated. To understand why activation is needed, let’s consider the essence of the process of purifying moonshine using coal.

Why is charcoal activation needed?

Coal fragments have pores and cracks. They, in turn, have a tree-like structure: wide pores-“tunnels” branch into narrower ones, and those into even narrower ones, etc. The smaller the diameter of the pore, the smaller the molecules get stuck in it, held by the charges of carbon molecules emerging into the lumen of the pore.

The molecules of “fusel oils” - the main enemy of a good drink - are mostly large molecules of alcohols. They are well adsorbed by coal, while small molecules of ethyl alcohol freely leave its pores.

Of course, it would be better to know that it allows for maximum removal of impurities, and additional purification is simply not required. But when working with any device, there is a human factor, so always be careful when distilling. And if you are thinking about purchasing a reliable distiller, then visit the websites of official manufacturers, you can get it with a guarantee and in just one click.

Activated charcoal differs from regular charcoal in that it has many more branched pores; it is literally riddled with them. The more pores, the greater the absorption capacity, the more impurities coal is able to absorb. Below we will talk about how to make activated carbon for purifying moonshine from simple charcoal.

Selecting coal and the procedure for activating it

Charcoal is taken from wood, for barbecues. However, it is important that it does not have a smoke smell, otherwise it will inevitably transfer to the drink. The best choice is natural birch charcoal for barbecues.
The process of activating (manufacturing) coal for purifying moonshine comes down to the expansion and even greater cracking of the pores in its particles. This is done using the physical properties of ordinary water. Due to the heating of the water impregnating the coal, its molecules begin to “pound” into the pore walls with enormous force, contributing to their increasing cracking.

Thus, to make coal for purifying moonshine, you will need:

1. Place charcoal for barbecue in a sugar bag and crush it with a hard, blunt object. A hammer works well for these purposes if you use it flat. It's best to do this outdoors as dust will still fly around.
2. Place a colander or sieve on a bowl (pan) and pour crushed coal into it. Dust and very small particles will pass through the filter, you will need those that remain on the sieve.
3. Place the coal in a saucepan, add water and boil for 60 minutes.
   

   By the way. Coal can be crushed after boiling, then there will be less dust. However, coal “dust” itself can also be used to clean moonshine.

4. After boiling, drain the water from the coal, spread the coal on a baking sheet and place it in the oven, preheated to maximum temperature, for 60-90 minutes. The heated charcoal will begin to make a crackling sound. Heating can be stopped when the characteristic smell of coal appears.

Testing the resulting charcoal is very simple: place a few pieces in water. The hissing and release of bubbles indicates that the coal is ready to fight harmful impurities to protect the moonshine. Activated carbon is one of the safest substances for purifying not only distillates, but liquids and air. And you can find out more about it in our articles.

This absorbent is often used to cleanse the body during food-borne intestinal infections and similar symptoms. What is activated carbon made from? The following components are used in its production: charcoal/stone and peat, which are heated in specialized containers (up to 100 C). After which they are subjected to further processing - shaping and packaging. Now every person will know what activated carbon is made from.

What was it made of before?

First they burned birch and fruit trees. The resulting coals were treated with steam at high temperatures. But since there was no special laboratory before, the whole process was carried out in a well-heated steam room. So, not most of the birch coals were taken out of the furnace and left in the bathhouse until the activation process began. Such coal had a fairly small weight, but due to its high porosity, its absorbent and absorptive qualities increase. Coal in those days was used as a multifunctional tool. They used it to purify drinking water, low-quality alcoholic products, and treat livestock and poultry. In principle, the latter is hardly any different from its modern use.

What is activated carbon used for:

1. To cleanse the gastrointestinal tract. It is allowed to drink in cases of poisoning by various toxic agents. It reduces the absorption of harmful elements into the intestinal tract by more than 50%.
2. At home it is used as a universal antidote. It neutralizes the harmful effects of alcohol, fatty foods, etc. By the way, experts advise drinking activated charcoal during a hangover, and not during a feast, in order to avoid the opposite effect - increased intoxication. It is also actively used as an effective method for weight loss. To do this, you need to drink 1 tablet three times a day - in the morning, at lunch and in the evening. Consult a nutritionist first.
3. Helps in the fight against gas formation. Therefore, when flatulence and associated colic occur, it is necessary to take charcoal.
4. Stops diarrhea.
5. Prescribed for chronic diseases. Does not allow components that can intensify allergic reactions to be absorbed into the blood. But first you need to consult with your doctor, it is possible that he will have something to add to this.

ATTENTION! Activated carbon should not be taken in long courses. It removes useful elements from the body that come with food. First of all, these are microelements and vitamins. Also, when used together with it, the effect of the drug is neutralized. Therefore, be very careful when treating it.

How does activated carbon work?

It removes all harmful substances accumulated in the body through adsorption and absorption. It is important to know that along with harmful elements, it also absorbs carbohydrates, proteins and fats, which the human body needs daily. In addition, it can, like a magnet, attract negative pollutant particles to the positively charged active oxygen contained in it. This process is called catalytic reduction. This means that during treatment they need to take a short break, which will be filled with vitamins by eating fresh fruits, vegetables and meat, according to the instructions of a specialist.

This drug has the following beneficial effects:

1. Firstly, these are detoxification, adsorbing and antidiarrheal properties.
2. Secondly, it removes elements that may contribute to the development of an allergic reaction.
3. And, finally, thirdly, it does not have an irritating effect on the mucous membranes.

It can be purchased in the form of tablets, capsules, granules, powder and paste for preparing a suspension for oral administration.

Indications for use:

• with impaired metabolism;
• poisoning with salts of heavy metals, various medications, chemicals. substances. It is also used in case of poisoning with low-quality (expired) products;
• hepatitis, occurring in acute or chronic form;
• withdrawal syndrome. Typically used for alcoholism.

In cases of increased gas formation and intoxication caused by radiotherapy, this absorbent is also used.

Contraindicated for bleeding from the gastrointestinal tract, colitis, and stomach ulcers. It is not recommended to take activated carbon along with antidote medications, it can adsorb it.

Caution - side effects

As a rule, this can be hypothermia, dyspepsia, low blood pressure, constipation. With the simultaneous use of laxatives and activated carbon, the appearance of loose stools is possible.