| Water has been purified with activated carbon for | | | | contaminants. However, this is not actually how the |
| hundreds of years stretching back to ancient India. | | | | process works. The molecules inside the activated |
| Most of us have seen activated carbon for sale in | | | | carbon are passive because they are connected to |
| pet stores for cleaning water and have used a crude | | | | other molecules around their entire perimeter. The |
| cousin, charcoal, to cook steaks in the backyard. | | | | molecules on the surface are not as |
| As a refined version of charcoal, activated carbon is | | | | “happy” because they are exposed on |
| made by super heating organic material like wood or | | | | one side without another carbon molecule as |
| coconut shells. This super heating drives out impurities | | | | company. Therefore, these exposed carbon |
| and causes the surface area of the resulting material | | | | molecules are actively seeking something to |
| to become tremendous. It is this large surface area | | | | “hook to” or bond with. As impurity in |
| that allows this substance to be used to clean water. | | | | the water pass the activated carbon these exposed |
| For years the process of water purification with | | | | molecules bond with the impurities through a process |
| activated carbon in water purifiers was referred to | | | | of adsorption. When the entire surface area of the |
| as absorption. This term refers to what a sponge | | | | activated carbon is covered with impurities is quits |
| does with water and it is easy to visualize the | | | | adsorbing impurities. |
| activated carbon acting like a sponge, soaking up | | | | |