Activated Charcoal
What is Activated Charcoal? The substance is popularly known by two other names, activated carbon and activated coal. Activated charcoal is simply charcoal that has been treated and processed to make the substance porous.
This increases the surface area of the charcoal and is used primarily for absorption. What does it absorb? Any chemicals, dissolved organic substances, scents or impurities in the water or the air are easily absorbed by activated charcoal.
This is why their use is very widespread in many industries. They are easy to come across and are cheap. There are many types of activated charcoal that are sold commercially. Powdered activated charcoal is the smallest form sold.
It is essentially activated carbon that has been crushed to a size of within 0.20 mm. Granular activated carbon (GAC) is a larger form. They are the activated charcoal of choice when looking to filter air or gases.
As such they are commonly used in home filters and gas masks. This substance is very popular within the aquarium industry as well. Almost all filters that are sold will include some form of activated charcoal. This charcoal is effective in absorbing impurities from the water.
It targets dissolved organic material that is produced by fish wastes, uneaten food or any organic material that rots in the water. It produces crystal clear water as well since activated charcoal also removes colour from the water column.
Back to Charcoal Tablets