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The simple answer: it is the charcoal made from different sources such as wood, coconut shell, bamboo, or coal, that is then “activated”, with steam or acid. This process carves away the internal structure of the charcoal particles producing a much higher [internal] surface area. This “activated charcoal” is then used in thousands of applications primarily to adsorb unwanted chemicals so that they can be neutralized or removed completely from the product that is being “cleaned”.
For a more detailed answer, CLICK “What is Activated Charcoal?”
Disregarding costs, each raw material has its own unique characteristics that make them more suitable for some applications than others. When activated, the various grades of charcoal produce unique internal pore structures that accommodate different sized molecules. For example coconut activated charcoal works very well for air and vapor applications that target odor control, while coal-based activated charcoal works well for color removal.
For specific applications CLICK Applications
There is no difference. Activated charcoal tends to be the lay term. “Activated carbon” is more commonly used in the manufacturing/technical sectors. Other terms are activated coal. Sometimes “active” is substituted for “activated”.
If stored in airtight containers, activated charcoal has an almost indefinite shelf life.
If left exposed to the environment, in time, activated charcoal will adsorb various pollutants and eventually “fill up.” Otherwise, if stored securely, there is no expiration limit other than what certain arbitrary governmental regulations may require as a maximum.
Activated Charcoal is considered GRAS – “Generally Recognized As Safe”. More than this, some manufacturers may go a step farther and have their product certified under several different agencies such as NSF, USP, UL, ASTM, ANSI, AWWA…
Yes, you can. But unless you take the extra time, and effort it will not be as fine a powder as is commercially made. You will also quickly find it is a vey messy process.
Activated charcoal is primarily used to remove some contaminant from an end product, or to refine, purify or otherwise concentrate the desired end product. It could be the removal of CO2 from the air in a nuclear submarine, or pollutants in the recycled water on the international space station or your home aquarium, or different odors, colors, flavors or toxins from pharmaceutical drugs ornutraceuticals. It could be the removal of H2S from fuel cells in the new hybrid cars, or cyanide in gold extraction. So diverse is activated charcoal in its applications, one manufacture asserts, "A thousand applications today, a thousand and one tomorrow". Activated charcoal is able to capture far infrared rays and microwave, it is used in the most sophisticated sound systems to clean out "dirty" sound, it is woven into Activated Carbon Cloth and pleated in NBC suits.