Activated carbon moisture

yank30265 · 09-15-2008, 02:31 AM

i purchased activated carbon in a cardboard box; Then I did something Ive never done before; i dumped it into a plastic container that had held some activated carbon but was empty. When I went to change my filter yesterday; there was moisture built up on the inside of the plastic container. The only thing I can think is the carboard container held moisture which then got in my carbon and when i put it in an airtight container I FOUND out. Any one had this happen before? For the record the plastic container was dry and had a screw on lid.

Judge · 09-15-2008, 11:39 AM

Nope, that's a new one on me but I can easily see how it could happen. I have done the exact same thing when I could not get it in big containers. Thanks for the heads up on that you probably saved me from the same thing in the future. My guess is it can be dried out and used without any negative effects. Thanks for sharing that Yank.

LiVe4fIsH · 09-15-2008, 11:41 AM

Hey Yank, I am sure that one of our great members will be stopping by shortly to help answer your question. Until then, I can try and send some ideas your way just in case you needed an answer quickly. I have worked with carbon many times in my previous labs and we use it obviously for a liquid clearifier and to filter/remove impurities through a media (carbon). Although, as we obtain our carbon, it is in a air shut glass bottle to prevent from absorbing moisture from the air. Carbon is also used as insulation in paperboard casings to absorb moisture so that the desired product would not have any moisture on/in it. Charcoal as well is another product used for this same case. This is why, carbon is sold with a sealed plastic case around it in a paperboard box which Im sure, has carbon in it as well. Maybe when you purchased your carbon, the plastic bag around the carbon had a hole in it of some sort. Hope this some what helps!
-izzy