Charcoal's Fragrance Removal: How Effective Is It?

Charcoal is a popular ingredient in natural personal care products, and its use is growing beyond the medical and industrial fields. It is known to have powerful capabilities in removing odours, and its effectiveness in this regard is linked to its unique adsorption properties. Charcoal has a large surface area, which makes it an extremely effective adsorbent. It attracts and attaches itself to negatively charged contaminant ions, making compounds easy to remove. This process is different from absorption, in which a solid soaks up a liquid. Charcoal can be used to remove odours from wounds, and in the medical field, it is used to treat poisonings. In terms of industrial applications, charcoal is commonly used in water filtration systems.

Charcoal briquettes vs. activated charcoal

Charcoal briquettes are a type of fuel commonly used for outdoor cooking. They are made from charcoal, a combination of coal, peat, wood pulp, petroleum, and coconut shells. Charcoal briquettes may also contain agricultural waste, other dry biomass, and chemical additives such as borax and petroleum solvents. These additional toxins make charcoal briquettes unsafe for ingestion and potentially toxic to humans. However, they can be used for non-cooking purposes, such as absorbing odours and moisture in enclosed spaces.

Activated charcoal, on the other hand, is primarily used as an alternative medicine to treat drug overdoses or poisoning due to its ability to bind to toxins and prevent their absorption into the body. It is also available over the counter to treat stomach upset, flatulence, and indigestion. The key difference between activated charcoal and charcoal briquettes lies in the activation process, which involves exposing the charcoal to high temperatures in a chamber without oxygen. This process increases the charcoal's surface area by making it more porous, enhancing its ability to absorb odours and toxins.

Activated charcoal is made from bone char, coconut shells, peat, petroleum coke, coal, olive pits, and/or sawdust. It is non-toxic and suitable for various applications, including water filtration and aquarium filtering systems. In skincare, activated charcoal is a popular ingredient in products such as toothpaste and face masks due to its ability to cleanse and detoxify.

While both types of charcoal share similar base materials, their intended uses differ significantly. Charcoal briquettes are primarily used as a fuel source, while activated charcoal is valued for its medical and absorptive properties.

The chemical process behind charcoal's odour absorption

Charcoal is a form of carbon with a very large surface area. Due to its high porosity, charcoal can absorb odour-causing molecules from the air. The odours and impurities are held to the surface of the charcoal with Van der Waals forces. The higher the surface area of the charcoal, the more smell it can absorb.

Activated charcoal has gone through a heat or chemical treatment to make it extremely porous. The higher level of porosity enables it to better absorb odour-causing molecules in the air. It is the same kind of charcoal used as an ingredient in toothpaste and skin care products.

The process of removing odours with charcoal is called adsorption. The smells and chemicals are stuck at the surface of the charcoal. Once the charcoal is exposed to sunlight for a few hours, it releases the smells and can be used again.

A good quality activated charcoal kit with a high adsorbent surface area can work for about a year. However, it needs to be kept in sunlight at least once a month.

How to use charcoal to absorb odours

Charcoal can be used to absorb odours, and it works particularly well when it has been activated. This is because activated charcoal has been heated or chemically treated to make it extremely porous. The higher level of porosity enables it to better absorb molecules in the air that cause unwanted odours.

Activated charcoal can be purchased online or from hardware or pet stores. It comes in a variety of different forms, including powder, pellets, and whole pieces of charcoal.

• Place pellets or a whole piece of charcoal in a sachet or small fabric bag and put them in discrete locations around your home.
• Put canisters or bowls of charcoal (any form will do) in areas of your home that are prone to unpleasant smells, such as the kitchen or inside the refrigerator.
• Place activated charcoal in the bottom of trash cans or diaper pails.
• Hang sachets full of charcoal in closets, laundry areas, or other locations in the home.

Activated charcoal is non-toxic, but it's still a good idea to keep it out of reach of pets or children.

Charcoal can also be used to remove odours from items that have been exposed to cigarette smoke. For example, you can place the smoky items in a bin with paper towels and cover them with charcoal briquettes.

Charcoal is a great natural alternative to toxic room fresheners or candles, which only cover up odours rather than removing them.

The difference between adsorption and absorption

Charcoal, particularly activated charcoal, is known to remove fragrance or odours from the air. This occurs through a process called adsorption.

Adsorption vs Absorption

While adsorption and absorption are two different processes, they are often confused with one another as they both involve the attachment of molecules to a surface.

Adsorption

Adsorption is a surface phenomenon where molecules or particles of a gas, liquid, or solid are attracted to and accumulate on the surface of a solid or liquid. The substance whose molecules are adsorbed at the surface is called the adsorbate, and the substance on whose surface the process takes place is called the adsorbent. Adsorption is often observed at solid-gas or solid-liquid interfaces, where a substance is adsorbed onto the surface of a solid material.

Examples of adsorption include:

• The use of activated carbon in air purification systems to remove harmful gases and pollutants.
• Chromatography, which relies on the adsorption of different molecules onto a stationary phase to separate them based on their chemical properties.
• The removal of heavy metals and other contaminants from wastewater by passing it through an adsorbent material.

Absorption

Absorption, on the other hand, is a bulk phenomenon where molecules of a gas or liquid are taken up and distributed evenly throughout the volume of a solid or liquid. Absorption involves the penetration of molecules into the bulk of the adsorbent, rather than just accumulating on its surface.

Examples of absorption include:

• The human body absorbing nutrients from food in the digestive system.
• Solar cells absorbing light energy and converting it into electrical energy.
• Diapers are designed to absorb moisture to keep infants dry.

In summary, both adsorption and absorption are distinct processes with unique characteristics and applications. Understanding their differences is essential for researchers and professionals in various scientific and industrial fields.

The use of charcoal in medical settings

Activated charcoal is commonly used in medical settings, particularly in emergency rooms, to treat drug overdoses and poisonings. It is given to patients within 1 to 4 hours of consuming a toxin or drug, as it cannot work if the substance has already been digested and is no longer in the stomach. It is also important to note that activated charcoal is not effective against all types of toxins and drugs, such as alcohols, iron, lithium, and petroleum products.

The use of activated charcoal in medicine dates back over 150 years. It is created by superheating natural sources of carbon, such as wood, to produce a fine, odorless, black powder. This process increases the charcoal's absorbency, allowing it to bind to molecules, ions, or atoms and prevent them from being absorbed in the stomach. The body cannot absorb charcoal, so the toxins bound to it are eliminated through stool.

In addition to its use in emergency poison treatment, activated charcoal is also said to offer several other health benefits. These include reducing flatulence, promoting kidney health, lowering cholesterol levels, and treating fish odor syndrome. However, many of these benefits rely on older or limited research, and more studies are needed to confirm these effects.

While activated charcoal is generally considered safe, it may cause side effects such as vomiting, especially if sorbitol is included as an ingredient. In rare cases, it has been linked to bowel blockages, and it carries a risk of entering the lungs if the patient vomits or is semiconscious when administered. Therefore, it is crucial to seek emergency medical assistance for poisonings or overdoses rather than attempting treatment at home.

Frequently asked questions