Overview
Drug manufacturers use activated carbon to purify active pharmaceutical ingredients, intermediates, vitamins, and enzymes. Activated charcoal is also a medicine in its own right, used to treat certain poisonings and overdoses. Pharmaceutical grades must meet pharmacopoeia standards.
How it works
- The crude product is dissolved in a solvent or water.
- Powdered carbon is mixed in, or the solution passes through a carbon column.
- By-products, color, and catalyst residues are adsorbed.
- The carbon is filtered out and the product is crystallized.
Why coconut shell
Consistent, low-ash feedstock supports the purity and repeatability that pharmaceutical grades require.
This page describes activated carbon in general. Suitability for a specific use depends on the activated carbon grade and the system it is used in.