Activated Charcoal

Activated Charcoal

In my online studies, I came across a very interesting household substance, namely charcoal, that has a number of amazing uses that I had never known before. Though lump charcoal and activated charcoal aren't the same as the charcoal you buy in a bag for grilling, they are still made in similar ways. Activated charcoal is a form of carbon charcoal that is processed in such a way that it becomes very porous and is able to absorb hazardous toxins and other things that are suspended in the air and water, or that are in the human body. Lump charcoal is made often from hardwood, through a process of flash heating, known as pyrolysis, where the wood is burned very intensely for a very short period of time, removing almost all traces of water and other substances and leaving only the lightweight carbon char behind. Lump charcoal can be processed further in order to activate it, making it more porous and able to absorb more chemicals and organic material. But even in its lump charcoal state, it still provides amazing filtration properties. A company in Japan creates lump charcoal from oak hardwood to be used raw, and as is for water filtration. It's either scary or amazing to think that a once growing tree limb can now provide water filtration for up to three months!Lump charcoal is very handy in water filtration. But it also has many more uses. I was amazed to find in my research that people have actually been using activated lump charcoal for many years as a medical supplement. Don't eat grocery charcoal!! Activated charcoal is also edible and can even save lives in some cases! Hospitals have been using activated charcoal for many years as an emergency method to absorb poisons where victims have either mistakenly eaten poison or have attempted suicide. Though many of the claims are unverified, proponents of medical activated charcoal claim that the charcoal absorbs toxins and detoxifies them and promotes overall wellness in the human body. Some also claim that activated charcoal supplements have the power to reduce flatulence when taken after meals.