History

Activated carbon uses, mainly for medical purposes, have been described as far as 1550 B.C by the Egyptians and again around 400 B.C by Hippocrates.

By the 18th century, “activated carbons” resulting from blood, wood and bones were used for liquid purification by filtration or sedimentation. These carbonaceous materials were precursors of adsorbents and existed exclusively in a powder form.

Activated carbon products can be put to a range of uses, including the purification, concentration and separation of gases from liquids, purifying drinking water, waste water and sewage treatment as well as controlling emissions. They also have further applications in the food, chemical and pharmaceutical industries.

Activated carbons are produced from carbon of vegetable origin (peat, lignite, coal or nutshells). The activation process creates an extensive pore structure that allows considerable adsorptiononto an active surface area above 400 m2/g.