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Granular Activated Carbon: Charcoal Crushed, Sieved and Activated in Air at 450 °C
Activated carbon is carbon from wood or other plant matter, charred and then activated: heated in an oxidising atmosphere so that pores open up. One simple way is an hour at 450 °C in air in a furnace. Crush charcoal, sieve out the granules, and activate them in the kiln.
The picture: our diagram, charcoal granules, the kiln, activated granules.
Intermediate
Half a day
Instructions
1
1
Crush and sieve
Crush and sieve
Crush charcoal in the mortar and sieve it, keeping what passes the coarse sieve but not the fine one. Wear a mask.
Materials for this step:
Charcoal0.3 kgTools needed:
Mortar and Pestle
Sieve
Fine Sieve
Dust Mask
Balance Scale2
2
Activate
Activate
Spread the granules thin in a crucible with its lid ajar so air can reach them, and hold it at 450 °C in the kiln for an hour, checking with the pyrometer.
Tools needed:
Crucible
Kiln
Pyrometer
Tongs
Heat-Resistant Gloves3
3
Cool and store
Cool and store
Let the crucible cool, weigh the granules, rinse the dust off in water and dry them. Keep them in a closed jar.
Tools needed:
Balance Scale
WaterFine Sieve
Glass Jar4
4
Weight lost in activation
Weight lost in activation
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