Virtually everyone has heard of carbon at some point. It’s an element that comes in many forms. As noted in several scientific explanations, it’s present in the atmosphere in a gaseous state, such as carbon monoxide and dioxide to name only a couple. It’s also found as various types of sedimentary rock. Diamonds are altered forms of carbon.
Carbon is also the basic building block of all life on Earth. Plants and animals alike are based on this element. It’s found in soil and in various fuels people rely on to power their vehicles, heat their homes, and run their factories.
Moving Beyond the Basics
With all that in mind, it’s time to move beyond the basics of carbon. When wood and other carbon-based materials are burned at high temperatures, they’re chemically and physically modified. From there, they’re partially transformed into another type of carbon known as charcoal.
You could say that carbon is, essentially, activated when it’s burned. This newly formed version of carbon is what people use in their grills to cook foods, but it can also be used in many others ways. Companies like Charcoal House are quite proficient in using charcoal in new and innovative ways.
Why Is Activated Charcoal Useful?
Activated carbon, or charcoal, is useful for several reasons. When it’s burned, or activated, it becomes even more porous than it is in its original form. Those extra pores give carbon far more surface area than it initially has. That makes it extremely absorbent. Why is that important? Take a look at some of the deeper details behind the increasingly widespread use of activated carbon.
Looking at Different Uses for Activated Carbon
Because of its ramped-up porousness and increased absorbency, activated carbon is a helpful tool for cleaning and purifying the world. It’s found in several places, some of which are a bit surprising. Chances are you use activated carbon in some way fairly regularly without even realizing it.
- Air Filters – Activated carbon air filters are becoming increasingly popular. They’re capable of removing toxins, pollutants, and other particles from the air. These days, indoor air contains higher concentrations of pollutants than outdoor air because homes are now more airtight than ever before. To make matters worse, stoves, gas heaters, cleaners, furniture, and other everyday items give off harmful particles that can further pollute the air. Activated carbon filters can remove many of those contaminants.
- Water Filters – Hundreds of contaminants can make their way into the water supplies coming into homes and businesses. Those pollutants come from soil, groundwater, pipes, and other sources. Activated carbon water filters remove many of those elements, making water clearer and cleaner. It tastes better after being sent through an activated charcoal filter as well.
- Skincare Products – Numerous skincare products containing activated carbon have also entered the market of late. Facial sponges, cleansing masks, shampoos, body washes, and detoxifying foot pads are only a few of them. Those products can help draw out impurities while removing surface dirt, oils, and contaminants to make the skin, hair, and body healthier.
Those are only a few of the areas in which activated carbon is making an appearance. It’s known for its purifying, cleansing, and deodorizing capabilities. On top of that, it’s a natural product that’s available in abundance. While some types of carbon can be harmful, activated charcoal is actually helping to clean up the world in numerous ways from eliminating contaminants in the air and water to drawing out toxins from the human body.