Activated charcoal, sometimes called activated carbon, is used to purify contaminated or polluted water. In an emergency situation, activated charcoal can be used to get rid of toxins and harmful toxins from the body. Before activating charcoal, you will first need to make homemade charcoal from firewood or fibrous plant material. Then, you can add an activating chemical, such as calcium chloride or lemon juice, and complete the activation process.
Step
Part 1 of 4: Making Charcoal
Step 1. Make a medium fire in a safe area
A campfire is the easiest way to make activated charcoal, but you can do it in your home fireplace. The fire must be hot enough to burn the wood.
Be vigilant when starting a fire and have a fire extinguisher nearby
Step 2. Put the small hardwood in a metal skillet
If you don't have hardwood, you can replace it with other fibrous plant material that is quite dense, such as coconut shell. Place hardwood or plant material in a metal skillet, then put the lid on.
- The lid of the cauldron should have air holes, although the flow of air in the cauldron will need to be limited during the process. You can use a cooking kettle that is usually used for camping so that air can escape through the spout.
- Burnt ingredients need to be as dry as possible before being put into the cauldron.
Step 3. Cook the skillet on an open flame for 3-5 hours to make charcoal
As the ingredients cook, you will notice smoke and gas coming out of the vents of the cauldron lid. This will burn all the material in the material, except for the carbon (charcoal) in it.
When no more smoke or gas escapes from the skillet, the charcoal is finished cooking
Step 4. Clean the charcoal with water when it is cold
Now, the charcoal in the cauldron will continue to heat up for a while. Wait for the charcoal to cool. When the charcoal is cool enough to touch, transfer the carbon to a clean container and rinse under cold water to remove any ash and any remaining debris, then drain the water.
Step 5. Grind the charcoal
Transfer the cleaned charcoal to a mortar and use a pestle to pound it into a fine powder. Otherwise, put the charcoal in a strong plastic bag and crush it into powder with a hammer.
Step 6. Allow the charcoal powder to dry completely
If you are using a plastic bag, transfer the powder to a clean bowl; if not, leave it in the mortar. Within 24 hours, the powder will dry.
Check the dryness of the charcoal using your fingers; powder should dry completely before transferring
Part 2 of 4: Activating Charcoal
Step 1. Mix calcium chloride with water in a 1:3 ratio
Be careful when mixing these substances as the solution will be very hot. You only need enough solution to completely submerge the charcoal. For a normal sized amount of charcoal, a mixture of 100 grams of calcium chloride with 310 ml of water should suffice.
Calcium chloride can be purchased at most hardware stores and major retailers
Step 2. Use bleach or lemon juice instead of the calcium chloride solution
If you can't get calcium chloride, you can replace it with bleach or lemon juice. Choose between 310 ml of bleach or 310 ml of lemon juice.
Step 3. Stir the calcium chloride solution and charcoal powder
Transfer the charcoal powder to a stainless steel or glass bowl. Slowly add the calcium chloride solution (or lemon juice, or bleach) to the powder while stirring with a wooden spoon.
When the consistency of the mixture resembles a paste, stop pouring the solution
Step 4. Cover the bowl and let the charcoal sit for 24 hours
Cover the bowl and leave it untouched. After that, drain as much moisture as possible from the bowl. At this point, the charcoal is wet, but not soaked.
Step 5. Cook the charcoal for another 3 hours to activate it
Return the charcoal to the metal cauldron (which has been cleaned) and return to the heat. After cooking at this temperature for 3 hours, the charcoal will be activated.
Part 3 of 4: Using Activated Charcoal
Step 1. Understand how activated charcoal works
Activated charcoal is useful for removing bad odors, bacteria, pollutants, and allergens from the air and water. Charcoal can trap odors, toxins, bacteria, pollutants, allergens, and chemicals into the many tiny pores in charcoal.
Step 2. Purify the air in the house
Wrap the activated charcoal in a sheet or linen cloth, then place the charcoal where it is needed. However, if you don't have linen, look for a fabric with a tight, breathable weave, such as cotton.
- Try not to use fabrics that smell like detergent or bleach. The charcoal will also absorb this odor and reduce its effectiveness.
- To purify the air, position the fan so that it blows air over the charcoal. The air passing through the charcoal will be purified.
Step 3. Create a water filter by filling charcoal into the socks
Commercial water filters can be quite expensive, but you can make your own low-cost water filter to purify water. Get a sock that doesn't smell like detergent or bleach, add activated charcoal, and wash off the water by pouring it into the sock.
Step 4. Make a charcoal-clay face mask
Mix 30 ml bentonite clay, teaspoon (2.5 ml) activated charcoal, 1 tablespoon (15 ml) turmeric, 2 tablespoons (30 ml) apple cider vinegar, and 1 teaspoon (5 ml) honey. Then, add a little water at a time until the mixture looks smooth.
- This mask is able to attract toxins and open the pores.
- The ingredients of this mask are natural so it is safe for almost all skin types.
- Apply the mask in a thick layer on the face and leave for 10 minutes, then rinse thoroughly.
Step 5. Treat bloating and gas using activated charcoal
Mix 500 mg of activated charcoal powder with 350 ml of water. Drink the mixture before eating a gas-producing meal, or when you start to feel bloated or gassy to relieve symptoms.
Mix activated charcoal with non-acidic juices (such as carrots) for a good taste. Stay away from acidic juices (such as oranges or apples) which reduce the effectiveness of activated charcoal
Part 4 of 4: Creating an Activated Charcoal Mask Filter
Step 1. Make a mask from a 2 liter plastic bottle
Use scissors to cut the bottom of a 2 liter plastic bottle. Then, remove the 7 cm wide panel from one side of the bottle. This panel will extend from the cut at the bottom of the bottle to the curve of the neck toward the spout.
Plastic can have jagged edges at the cut. Use medical tape along the cut edge of the bottle for cushioning
Step 2. Make a filter chamber with aluminum cans
Make several air holes in the aluminum can using scissors or a screwdriver. After that, trim the top of the aluminum can with regular scissors, can shears, or lawn shears.
Be careful when handling metal scraps in cans. These edges are usually sharp enough to cut the skin. Apply medical tape on these sharp edges for cushioning
Step 3. Fill the mask with activated charcoal
Insert a layer of cotton into the bottom of the can. Add a layer of activated charcoal on top of the cotton, then overlap the charcoal with another layer of cotton. Plaster cotton on the cut opening of the can, then make a small hole in the cotton.
Be careful when filling aluminum cans with charcoal, especially if the sharp edges are not covered in plaster
Step 4. Glue the mask together and apply when needed
Insert the spout of the 2 liter bottle into the hole in the cotton swab at the top of the can. Glue the aluminum can to the bottle to complete the mask. If you breathe through this mask, the air will be filtered by the charcoal in the can.
Warning
- Monitor the fire while cooking the charcoal. If the fire goes out, the temperature will drop too low and the charcoal won't activate.
- If chemicals such as calcium chloride are not handled or used properly, their effects can be dangerous. Always follow the safety procedures listed on the packaging label.
