Super Eco

Activated carbon, also called activated charcoal or activated coal, is a form of coal that has been processed so it has a very large surface area, and is very porous and absorbs substances easily. It has a wide variety of environmental applications, most famously cleaning up oil spills; but you will also find it in your house in most water filters. Its other environmental uses include groundwater remediation, air purification, and in the capture of VOCs from painting, dry cleaning, and other processes which emit dangerous inhalants.

The substance is used in many other applications, as well, including treating poisonings and overdoses; sewage treatment; gold purification; and in the purification of distilled beverages such as alcohol.

Recycling

Once activated carbon is spent, it can be recycled, or "reactivated," by a process that involves drying, "desorption" (where the volatile minerals are driven off), "pyrolysis" (where the heavy organics are burnt) and "gasification' (gases and vapors driven out of pores).

Mercury scrubbing

Specially-treated activated carbon is used to catch mercury emissions from medical incinerators, natural gas wellheads, and coal-fired power stations. Once the carbon has captured the mercury, however, it is difficult to dispose safely and much of the mercury-laden carbon is accumulating in warehouses and abandoned mines.