Charcoal is made up of carbon and ashes produced through drying and removal of volatile residues from animal and vegetation substances. It has been used for many different purposes for centuries and alterations to its constituency and the structure could provide charcoal with properties that are useful even in medicine.
What is activated charcoal?
Activated charcoal is a specially made product from carbon sources such as peat, nutshells, wood, coir, lignite, coal and petroleum pit. The process of producing activated charcoal differs largely from the production of other types of charcoal in that; the charcoal used for this purpose would be oxidized at high temperatures which will result in a highly porous substance.
By changing its carbon structure to a porous arrangement, activated charcoal can interact with other molecules and bind them to its large surface area which can amount to more than 500 square meters per one gram of activate charcoal. Having a large area would further mean that gases and fluid substances can pass through these pores and channels thus enabling these substances to have contact with the enormously large surface area of activated charcoal.
What is a charcoal briquette?
Briquettes are made by compressing the charcoal along with several other additives and binding agents. The charcoal used for this purpose is mainly derived from saw dust and other wood by products. Starch has been used as the binding agent in most instances. Furthermore, some products of charcoal briquette may include ignition aids, heat sources, and ash whitening agents such as limestone as well.
What are the different uses of activate charcoal and charcoal briquette?
Activated charcoal is a substance used by medical professionals for detoxification in relation to acute poisoning as it can bind toxic substances present in the stomach. Although this may not work for all toxic substances, many do. At the same time, its ability to bind toxic materials have also been used for water purification as in the case of water filters used for drinking as well as in fish tanks. Furthermore, in some instances, activated charcoal is also useful for detoxifying foods or removing bad odors from the same.
Charcoal briquette on the other hand is used as an energy source through burning, as in the case of health production, BBQ ovens, industrial health generation as well as a for electricity generation. It has also been used for odor control in garages, attics and similar locations. However, charcoal briquette is a poisonous substance for human consumption although activated charcoal has been used for detoxifying efforts.
The difference between activated charcoal and briquettes are enormous. The uses of these two substances have greatly influences the lives of humans and remain valuable even at present context.
