Creating Activated Carbon - Part 1

Welcome to Episode 5 of Molecular Playground. I turn sugar into the activated carbon! Activated carbon is known for its high porosity and immense surface area, making it pivotal in applications like water filtration and air purification.
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[@Metal_Master_YT]

my left ear got all the fun...

[@alllove1754]

Thank you ❤❤

[@thecatat7]

Great video, subbed. How would you process it further to use for water filtration? Please do a video on that.

[@B_Van_Glorious]

I think it's supposed to take an acetone bath to further open it up, but I could be mistaken

[@MolecularPlayground]

I initially did not have plans to do make it into a water filter, but yours and another comment have warranted such a video! Expect it to come out around early-to-mid February since I have another video in the works. Thank you so much for the feedback!

[@alksmdlaks]

will it also work for filtering VOCs in air?

[@MolecularPlayground]

If a regular/commercial activated carbon filter can do it, this can too given enough processing. This processing includes soaking in sodium carbonate to neutralize sulfuric acid residue, soaking in water to remove salt, baking on high, and integrating puffed carbon powder into a filter (all of which will be shown soon in Part 2)

[@derekturner3272]

Awesome video. Subed for sure!

[@ditdieubakajika2077]

Hi sir, please tell me what can i do with this carbone activate?

[@MolecularPlayground]

After soaking it in a baking soda solution, washing with pure water, and baking on high to dry (all will be shown in part 2), you can anything you would do with store-bought activated carbon such as filtering contaminants from the water or air

[@ninja2624]

whats the difference betweet that activated carbon and activated charcoal? if i buy activated carbon on the market does it comes from charcoal or from sugar?

[@nilemagenta1787]

Same thing basically, but (activated) charcoal is usually made from wood. Also some activated carbon marketed as activated charcoal is less pure, but that isn't necessarily the case and depends on the production process and quality of intermediates.

[@lrmackmcbride7498]

The higher quality stuff is from coconut shells. Also called coconut coir. It is heated like wood. Rinsed with distilled water to remove salts then steam activated. Cody has a video on activating charcoal by steam.

[@ditdieubakajika2077]

Can i do it for battry carbone?

[@MolecularPlayground]

No. Batteries use a specific carbon called Graphite. Graphite is a highly ordered form of carbon consisting of hexagonal packed tubes which allow for the conduction of electricity. Activated carbon is rather amorphous and won’t conduct electricity because it’s molecular structure is not ordered.

[@Metal_Master_YT]

alternatively pass superheated steam through charcoal in an oxygen free environment.

[@huipil]

great video but why is the stereo audio only on the left side?

[@MolecularPlayground]

I don’t understand your question.

[@Zegezer]

​@@MolecularPlaygroundHe means, that in headphones, the audio is played only in left one

[@MolecularPlayground]

It must be a headphone issue because I have no control over it

[@Zegezer]

@@MolecularPlayground Nah, it's true I have that problem too, only in chloroform and acetone videos there is stereo sound. Probably you can fix it in YT reactor, if you want

[@MolecularPlayground]

I know how to resolve your issue! (Assuming you are an Apple user), go to settings. Find Accessibility and go to Audio & Visual tab. Turn ON Mono Audio. See if that works :)

[@crazykitchenswatijais6563]

Third one chemical is naco3 or other

[@MolecularPlayground]

It is sodium percarbonate. Sodium percarbonate is an adduct of sodium carbonate and hydrogen peroxide. It is shown as 3H2O2:2Na2CO3

[@Metal_Master_YT]

You are using a cracked Erlenmeyer flask, this is not a good practice, especially with corrosive and caustic chemicals.

[@MolecularPlayground]

Haha, you are the first one who caught that! I could not clean out the brominated oil from the other flask in time to make this video. (Even now, there is still some residue). Also update, the cracked flask is dead now.

[@aryansingh7209]

great demonstration. I'm looking forward to that you would some experiments and purify it.

[@TheGrmany69]

This is an extremely dangerous procedure

[@DMahalko]

Yes, not enough safety and hazard information provided in the video. He's doing it outside without explaining why he's outside. The vapor coming out during the exothermic reaction includes unreacted sulfuric acid and is hazardous to breath or contact anything you don't want damaged. It should be done inside a proper fume hood but eh whatever right? Try this at home kids! Downvoted.

[@FabrizioCacciatorre]

​@@DMahalko What is dangerous about this? Sulfuric acid can’t be vaporized unless by very high heat (b.p. 300C) which is clearly not seen here because it didn’t melt a hole in the table. The fumes seem to be mostly water because of the condensation, and the bit of sulfur dioxide and carbon dioxide fumes emitted are quickly diluted by the air. I’d argue this is safer BECAUSE it is outside. Also him doing experiments outdoors seems to be a recurring theme rather than something done specifically. Don’t be a bitter, ignorant stronza because his channel is doing better than yours!