HISTORIC Journey of activated carbon and breakthroughs

Active duty - Activated carbon (also known as activated charcoal) is an exceptionally versatile material that can control the vast majority of molecules that pollute the air – that’s more than 150 million catalogued chemicals. Nowadays, activated carbon is used in a range of filters to remove a host of chemicals including volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Along with causing eye, nose and throat irritation, VOCs have also been linked to liver and kidney damage, central nervous system impairment and even cancer. Carbon filters are also used to remove other airborne chemical contaminants and eliminate odours in water waste treatment plants and other manufacturing processes. 

What is the history of activated carbon? 

It seems likely that the first use of activated carbon was probably done by prehistoric man for quite a different purpose – to remove impurities in smelted metal to manufacture bronze. Like Bronze Age man, the ancient Egyptians also discovered an aspect of carbon that is completely unrelated to filtering air – this time as a preservative.  

But the Egyptians discovered that carbon could be used as more than a preservative. The first recorded use of carbon for medicinal purposes comes from Egyptian papyri around 1500 B.C. Around 400 B.C. ancient Hindus and Phoenicians discovered the healing properties of activated carbon and began using it to purify water. Much more recently, in the 1700s, carbon is mentioned as a useful material to control odours from gangrenous ulcers and it was also prescribed for gastric problems.  

What is activated carbon? 

Activated carbon is carbon that has been treated with carbon dioxide or super-heated steam at very high temperatures. This creates a matrix of tiny pores in the carbon that increases its surface area and creates more places for molecules to become trapped; this is what makes the carbon an effective filter medium. Activated carbon filters also often undergo chemical treatment to boost their ability to trap specific pollutants. 

Activated filters are used particularly in molecular filters (sometimes known as chemical filters or gas phase filters). These typically employ a technique called ‘adsorption’. In simple terms this means sticking the molecules onto materials with extremely high surface areas.

The structure of activated carbon includes millions of microscopic pores where gases enter and condense to a liquid on the carbon surface. One pound of carbon has over six million square feet of surface area allowing the carbon to maintain its gas capture efficiency for a long period, up to four years in some HVAC applications. 

Activated carbon filters from Camfil 

We use activated carbon filters in our molecular filters, designed to remove molecules, gases, and vapours from the air. Molecules are typically 1,000 to 10,000 times smaller than the most penetrating particles that pass through HEPA/ULPA filters. 

Nearly all Camfil molecular filters use activated carbon or activated alumina as the active ingredient.  

For more information about our range of molecular filters, click here.