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Activated charcoal, sometimes referred to as activated carbon, is a versatile material used for filtering water or purifying polluted air. In emergency scenarios, it can also be employed to eliminate harmful toxins from the body. To produce activated charcoal, you first need to burn wood or fibrous plant material into charcoal, then use activating agents like calcium chloride or lemon juice to complete the activation process.
Steps
Burn Wood into Charcoal
Start a moderate-sized fire in a safe location. Building a fire outdoors is likely the simplest way to create activated charcoal, but you can also do this in an indoor fireplace. The fire must be hot enough to burn the wood completely.
- Take necessary fire safety precautions and always keep a fire extinguisher nearby.
Load hardwood pieces into a metal pot. If hardwood is unavailable, you can substitute it with any dense, fibrous plant material, such as coconut shells. Fill the pot with hardwood pieces or plant material and cover it with a lid.
- The lid should have a vent hole, although steam inside the pot will be limited throughout the burning process. You can use a camping kettle to allow air to escape through the spout.
- Ensure the material placed in the pot is as dry as possible.
Heat the pot over a flame for 3-5 hours to produce charcoal. Place the covered pot over the flame. While heating, you will notice smoke and steam escaping through the vent hole in the lid. This process burns away everything in the material except the carbon (charcoal).
- When no more smoke or steam escapes from the pot, the heating process is complete.
Rinse the charcoal once it has cooled. The charcoal in the pot will remain hot for some time after heating. Wait until it cools completely. Once cool enough to handle, transfer the charcoal to a clean container and rinse it with cool water to remove ash and leftover debris, then drain the water.
Grind the charcoal. Place the rinsed charcoal into a mortar and use a pestle to crush it into a fine powder. Alternatively, you can place the charcoal in a sturdy plastic bag and use a hammer or meat tenderizer to grind it into a fine powder.
Allow the charcoal to dry completely. If you used a plastic bag to grind the charcoal, transfer it to a clean bowl. If you used a mortar, you can leave it there. The charcoal will dry within 24 hours.
- Check the dryness by hand; the charcoal must be completely dry before proceeding to the next step.
Activate the Charcoal
Dissolve calcium chloride in water at a 1:3 ratio. Exercise caution when mixing these substances, as the resulting solution will become very hot. You need enough solution to fully submerge the charcoal. For an average batch, use about 100 g of calcium chloride mixed with 300 ml of water.
- Calcium chloride is available at chemical supply stores and retailers.
Use bleach or lemon juice as an alternative to the calcium chloride solution. If calcium chloride is unavailable, you can substitute it with bleach or lemon juice. Simply use 300 ml of bleach or 300 ml of lemon juice.
Mix the calcium chloride solution with the charcoal powder. Transfer the dry charcoal powder into a stainless steel or glass bowl. Gradually pour the calcium chloride solution (or lemon juice/bleach) into the charcoal powder, stirring continuously with a spoon.
- Stop adding the solution once the mixture reaches a paste-like consistency.
Cover the bowl and let it sit for 24 hours. Seal the bowl and leave it undisturbed for 24 hours. Afterward, drain as much liquid as possible from the bowl. At this stage, the charcoal will be damp but not soaking wet.
Heat for an additional 3 hours to activate the charcoal. Transfer the charcoal back into a clean metal pot and place it over a flame. The heat must be sufficient to boil water and activate the charcoal. The charcoal will be fully activated after 3 hours of heating at this temperature.
Using Activated Charcoal
Understand how activated charcoal works. Activated charcoal is highly effective in treating odors, bacteria, pollutants, and allergens in air and water. It works by absorbing odors, toxins, bacteria, pollutants, allergens, and chemicals into its tiny pores.
Filter indoor air. Wrap a small amount of activated charcoal in a linen cloth and place it in areas requiring air purification. If linen is unavailable, use a tightly woven, breathable fabric like cotton.
- Avoid using fabric with soap or bleach odors, as the charcoal will absorb these scents and reduce its effectiveness.
- To enhance air filtration, position a fan to blow air through the charcoal pouch. The air will be purified as it passes through the charcoal.
Use a sock to create a DIY activated charcoal water filter. Store-bought water filters can be expensive, but you can achieve similar results affordably by making your own. Find a clean sock free of soap or bleach odors, fill it with activated charcoal, and purify water by pouring it through the sock.
Create a clay and activated charcoal face mask. Mix 2 tablespoons (30 ml) of bentonite clay, half a teaspoon (2.5 ml) of activated charcoal, 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of turmeric, 2 tablespoons (30 ml) of apple cider vinegar, and 1 teaspoon (5 ml) of honey in a small bowl. Gradually add water to the mixture and stir until a smooth consistency is achieved.
Relieve bloating and gas with activated charcoal. Stir 500 mg of activated charcoal into 350 ml of water. Drink the mixture before meals that cause gas or when you start feeling bloated to alleviate symptoms.
Make an air-purifying mask with activated charcoal
Design a mask from a 2-liter plastic bottle. Use scissors to cut off the bottom of a 2-liter plastic bottle. Then, cut out a section about 7.5 cm wide from the side of the bottle. This section should start from the bottom you just cut and extend up to where the bottle begins to curve towards the neck.
Create a filter chamber using an aluminum can. Use scissors or a screwdriver to poke breathing holes in the bottom of an aluminum can. Cut off the top of the can using sturdy scissors or tin snips.
Incorporate activated charcoal into the mask. Place a layer of cotton fabric at the bottom of the container. Add a layer of activated charcoal on top of the fabric, then cover it with another layer of cotton. Secure the cotton over the container's opening and cut a small hole in the fabric.
Assemble the mask components and use as needed. Attach the 2-liter bottle's mouth to the hole cut in the fabric covering the container. Secure the aluminum can to the bottle to complete the mask. When you breathe, air will be filtered through the activated charcoal in the can.
Warning
- Monitor the burning charcoal carefully. The charcoal will not activate if the flame goes out or the temperature drops too low.
- Improper handling or use of chemicals like calcium chloride can be hazardous. Always follow the safety instructions on the chemical bottle's label.
What you'll need
- Metal pot (with a vented lid)
- Hardwood (or fibrous plant materials like coconut shells)
- Container (such as a clean bowl or bucket)
- Mortar and pestle (or a sturdy plastic bag and meat tenderizer)
- Calcium chloride (or lemon juice/bleach)
- Stainless steel or glass bowl
- Spoon
- Linen cloth (or tightly woven, breathable fabric)
- Clean sock
- Scissors
- 2-liter plastic bottle
- Medical tape
- Aluminum can
- Cotton fabric
- Activated charcoal
