search  current discussion  categories  materials - clay 

earthenware water filter question

updated wed 31 oct 01

 

Reid Harvey on tue 30 oct 01


Dear Clayart Friends and Lovers,
Can anyone point me to a source of information concerning 'activated
charcoal?' We want to try putting this inside our silver saturated,
earthenware water purifiers, and need to know how it differs from
charcoal that is not activated. We would like to be able to make the
activated charcoal here, but need to know the methodology in
'activation,' or is this just a gimmick? (this last is not intended to
sound cynical)
Thanks,
Reid Harvey
The Arsenic Research Group
Dhaka, Bangladesh
To read a recent presentation on earthenware water purifier candles,
click:
http://phys4.harvard.edu/~wilson/remediation/ACER.html
To find out how the earthenware candles are made, click:
http://www.geocities.com/ceramafrique/tour/A.htm

Richard Jeffery on tue 30 oct 01


found this in a quick search of Google - I suspect longer looking might
provide more detail

http://www.howstuffworks.com/question209.htm

Richard
Bournemouth UK
www.TheEleventhHour.co.uk


-----Original Message-----
From: Ceramic Arts Discussion List [mailto:CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG]On
Behalf Of Reid Harvey
Sent: 30 October 2001 08:19
To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
Subject: earthenware water filter question


Dear Clayart Friends and Lovers,
Can anyone point me to a source of information concerning 'activated
charcoal?' We want to try putting this inside our silver saturated,
earthenware water purifiers, and need to know how it differs from
charcoal that is not activated. We would like to be able to make the
activated charcoal here, but need to know the methodology in
'activation,' or is this just a gimmick? (this last is not intended to
sound cynical)
Thanks,
Reid Harvey
The Arsenic Research Group
Dhaka, Bangladesh
To read a recent presentation on earthenware water purifier candles,
click:
http://phys4.harvard.edu/~wilson/remediation/ACER.html
To find out how the earthenware candles are made, click:
http://www.geocities.com/ceramafrique/tour/A.htm

____________________________________________________________________________
__
Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org

You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/

Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
melpots@pclink.com.

Michael Banks on wed 31 oct 01


Hi Reid,

No gimmick :) Porous charcoal that has been heated in a current of
superheated steam (>100 degrees C) has much increased absorption of certain
gases, metal salts, colouring matter and volatile liquids. Carbon or
charcoal so treated is known as active carbon, or activated charcoal. It is
available commercially in many countries (probably in India next-door),
though it is likely you could make your own if you have access to a boiler.

Choice of the starting material for your charcoal is important. In the
tropics, coconut shell is an abundant source which has good porosity and
good hardness. Activated charcoal prepared from this is used extensively in
gold extraction world-wide as it stands up well to abrasion and has
excellent absorption of metal cyanides.

Cheers,
Michael
NZ

----- Original Message -----
Reid Harvey wrote:


> Can anyone point me to a source of information concerning 'activated
> charcoal?' We want to try putting this inside our silver saturated,
> earthenware water purifiers, and need to know how it differs from
> charcoal that is not activated. We would like to be able to make the
> activated charcoal here, but need to know the methodology in
> 'activation,' or is this just a gimmick? (this last is not intended to
> sound cynical