Reactivating activated carbon. Can it be done?

[9teen75transam]

Just want to know if you can reactivate Carbon? I would like to do this, If it can be done? I heard you can put it in the oven at 425 degrees for 30 min.

[redtop03]

not sure of the temp or the amount of time but have read of people doing it,the oven is supposed to bake out the bad stuff and rejuvenate it....if you try it,let us know how it works

[9teen75transam]

How am I going to know if it works?

[redtop03]

good question......IDK

[Joost's reef]

Manufacturing Processes of Activated Carbon.
Many natural substances of base materials are used to make activated carbon. The most common of these are wood, coal, lignite, and coconut shell. The base material is first subjected to a heating process called carbonization. This initial treatment forms a fixed carbon mass full of tiny pores. The carbonized base material is then activated by a second heat - steam treatment (200-1600 C) while regulating oxygen and carbon dioxide levels. Activation creates a fast internal pore network and imparts certain surface chemistries (functional groups) inside each particle. Thus activation gives carbon its unique filtering characteristics. The carbon product may be supplied as granular activated carbon (GAC), powdered activated carbon (PAC), or in pelleted form (compressed PAC). Some carbons are activated or washed with phosphoric acid, zinc chloride, or potassium hydroxide. These chemically treated activated carbons are unsuitable for use in the aquarium. These products could leach phosphate (an algae promoter), heavy metals, or alter pH.

From http://www.hallman.org/filter/gac.html

Quote from wetwebmedia:

Thermal Reactivation of Carbon
Hello all, I have a quick question as to the re-use of carbon in my reef tank. <Yes, surely> The use of granular activated* carbon (GAC) tends to be the best available method for removing dissolved organics and some inorganic chemicals from our reef tanks by adsorption. It is assumed that the inorganic chemicals are removed through a properly functioning RO/DI process and are not re-introduced into the reef system at another stage.
Organics are introduced by various biological processes which are occurring in the reef system. When those organics have saturated the available GAC and it has reached its breakpoint, shouldn't it be possible to regenerate the GAC with the application of heat to burn up the organic molecules which have been captured? <In a lab environment, certainly> In water treatment
applications it is mentioned that GAC can be reactivated but at an interval of 1 to 2 years. Any thoughts on this matter?
<I have heard many thought on the re-activation of carbon, both in home and in laboratory environments. I'm not certain why I haven't heard about home success regarding this. In the business world, I believe something called a "Carbon Reactivation Kiln" is used, but they're typically a custom made item. This leads me to assume that the resources for obtaining new carbon are less costly than re-activating saturated carbon. I would encourage you to keep the flow of information coming- Much research on matters like this is unavailable to the daily aquarist because it's private research. It's in my nature to encourage recycling and reusing extinguishable resources. Thanks for contributing, Ryan Bowen>
Thanks for any information you can supply.
<It's not much, but perhaps this is a good starting point: http://webstore.ansi.org/ansidocstor...=ASTM+D6781-02>
David McFadden
Dallas, Texas
* The term activated refers to the high-temperature removal of tarry
substances from the interior of the carbon granule, leaving a highly
porous structure.

hth

[Ed Reef]

Theory is it works but unfortunately for us hobbyist, there is no way to find out if it really works??

[Elijaher]

Interested subject.

[saltyguy52]

I read on another forum just recently that it can be heated up to 1700 degrees F or untill it glows red and then it has cooked out any organics and rinse it off and ready to go again. One problem with that, cooking ovens dont get that hot and it would take alot of energy to do that, thats why I buy my carbon by the 50lb tubs for 97.00 either small pellets or granuels.

[redtop03]

I read on another forum just recently that it can be heated up to 1700 degrees F or untill it glows red and then it has cooked out any organics and rinse it off and ready to go again. One problem with that, cooking ovens dont get that hot and it would take alot of energy to do that, thats why I buy my carbon by the 50lb tubs for 97.00 either small pellets or granuels.

that sounds more reasonable,as it was a glowing ember from the start.....for the price,it really isn't worth taking a chance that baking it doesn't work IMO

[Elijaher]

What they rinse it off with I wonder. Tap water, purify water?