can old carbon be reactivated

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
Hi.

Place carbon on a cookie sheet an dry, then place in a 350*-400* oven for 1-1.5hrs stirring once. This will reactivative the carbon, BUT, it's capacity will be degraded by about 20% and will degrade this way with every recharge. To fully recharge the carbon would take very high temps to vaporize the heavy metals and an absence of oxygen so that the carbon doesn't burn up. Not really worth it considering you have to do something with the heavy metal vapors :WHOA: .

So if your using alot of carbon for in your specific situation, you could recharge it once and supplement this with 20% new carbon, then discard (recycle, but remember that if your putting it with edible plants it will leach out all the garbage and metals that it absorbed) all and start over.

Any specific reason your using carbon...odors, chemical removal, instructions said to?

Dr Joe

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the reason i asked was for carbon in my air scrubber odor control around the house i only use carbon on the aquarium when removing meds.since i have learned that bio filter is more important than the carbon i stuffed the hob filters with scrubbies and sponges and got great results.Dr. joe it appears u have done some research on this topic and found a solution to this question thanks for the heavy duty help u kick arse on MFK.:headbang2 I may try baking a large amount of carbon in the near future like u said i will let u know how it goes but it wont be for the aquarium it will be for the air scrubber it is large and uses alot of carbon.:D
 
Most excellent :thumbsup:

Thanks for the conpliment...Been doing this way too long. ;)

Should have a higher percentage on your return for an air scrubber because of the lack of dead bacteria from water based filters.

If you're using alot of carbon you may consider tumbling (like they do to polish stones in lapidary work) the carbon to expose more/new surface areas (it doesn't help much for aquaria carbon tho).

Glad to hear that the scrubbies worked in the HOB for you, can you show us a pic, there are some on here that are non-believers. :D

Regards,

Dr Joe

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sorry no digital camera the others will just have to take my word for it.
 
I guess you could chisel it into stone just not sure how you'd post it :screwy: :ROFL:
 
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