Active carbon
Porous structure
Activated carbon has an extremely porous structure with a large inner surface area. The activation process, in which coal is treated with special gases at high temperatures, creates additional pores. This increases the effective surface area per gram of carbon.
Adsorption
The key mechanism by which activated carbon absorbs odors is adsorption. Gas and odor molecules are bound to the surface of the activated carbon and are then no longer perceptible.
Physical attraction
The adhesion to the surface is caused by van der Waals forces. These forces ensure that odor particles are trapped in the pores and held there. There are no chemical bonds.
Large surface area
The large surface area of the activated carbon makes it possible to adsorb a considerable amount of odor molecules. This removes unpleasant odors from the air.
Regeneration
Activated carbon can be regenerated by heating it. The absorbed molecules are then desorbed. This process removes the odorous substances from the activated carbon and makes it ready for use again.
Use in combination with silica gel
The combination of activated carbon and silica gel in products such as desiccants, air fresheners and other odor eliminators offers a synergistic effect, as both materials have different properties. Activated carbon is particularly effective at adsorbing gases and odors. And silica gel is an excellent desiccant that can adsorb moisture from the air. This is particularly useful in environments where both moisture and odors are a problem. For example, in the case of outgassing substances in medical products that also need to be protected from excessive humidity so that they do not lose their effectiveness.
