What is activated charcoal?
Activated charcoal is a fine, black powder made from bone char, coconut shells, peat, petroleum coke, coal, olive pits or sawdust. The charcoal is “activated” by processing it at very high temperatures. The high temperatures change its internal structure, reducing the size of its pores and increasing its surface area. This results in a charcoal that is more porous than regular charcoal.
Activated charcoal works by trapping toxins and chemicals in its millions of tiny pores. This prevents the toxins from being absorbed by the body. It is commonly used to treat poisoning, reduce intestinal gas, lower cholesterol, whiten teeth, and filter water. Some activated charcoals are formulated specifically for certain uses.
Does activated charcoal expire?
Yes, activated charcoal does expire. Activated charcoal contains a porous structure that gives it a large surface area allowing it to absorb things effectively. However, over time this porous structure can break down and become less effective at adsorption (the adhesion of atoms, ions, biomolecules or molecules of liquid or gas to a surface).
The expiry date of activated charcoal varies depending on the manufacturer, but it generally expires after 1 to 3 years. Very old activated charcoal may start to degrade within 6 months.
Some signs that your activated charcoal has expired are:
– It has passed the expiration date printed on the packaging
– The color has faded to a light grey rather than jet black
– It has a reduced odor absorbing capacity
– It stops bubbling or releasing gas when exposed to water
– It has absorbed moisture and become difficult to powderize
Proper storage can help extend the shelf life of activated charcoal. Store it in a cool, dry location in an airtight container and keep it away from direct sunlight and moisture. However, it will eventually degrade over time.
Is it dangerous to take expired activated charcoal?
Taking expired activated charcoal is generally not dangerous, but it may not be as effective at absorbing toxins or chemicals as a fresh supply.
The main risk with expired activated charcoal is that it has a reduced ability to adsorb poisons and toxins. If it is used soon after expiring, it will likely still have some effectiveness, but after about 6 months to a year the adsorptive capacity drops off significantly.
Using very old activated charcoal could allow toxins or poisons to stay in your body rather than being trapped in the charcoal. This means it would be less effective as a treatment option.
Out of date activated charcoal also often has higher levels of mold and bacteria. This could potentially lead to gastrointestinal side effects like nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea if ingested.
Expired activated charcoal may also contain chemical degradation products that can be harmful with long-term use. But occasional use of recently expired charcoal is unlikely to cause notable issues for most people.
Overall, taking recently expired activated charcoal supplements occasionally is generally safe, but may be less effective. However, it’s best to avoid using activated charcoal that is more than 6 months to 1 year past its expiry date. The older it is, the less adsorption capacity it will have.
Does activated charcoal lose its effectiveness over time?
Yes, activated charcoal does become less effective at adsorbing over time. This is because the porous structure of activated charcoal can degrade and collapse.
The porous quality of activated charcoal gives it an incredibly large surface area. Just one gram of activated carbon can have a surface area of over 500 m2. This allows it to effectively trap chemicals and toxins through adsorption.
But this porous structure is sensitive to environmental conditions like humidity, temperature changes, and direct UV exposure from sunlight. Over time, the pores can undergo structural changes and begin to collapse. As the pores degrade and collapse, the available surface area inside the activated charcoal decreases significantly.
With less porous surface area, there are fewer binding sites available to trap toxins. Studies show activated charcoal can lose 5-14% of its adsorption capacity each year if not stored properly. Once activated charcoal is more than 2 years old, it often has 50% less effectiveness or more.
Keeping activated charcoal in an air-tight container in a cool, dry place can helpextend its shelf life. But degradation over time is normal. Using activated charcoal more than 6 months to 1 year past its expiration date is not recommended.
Can taking expired activated charcoal be harmful?
Taking expired activated charcoal is generally not harmful, but it may cause some unwanted side effects or be less effective than fresh activated charcoal.
Here are some potential downsides of using expired activated charcoal:
– Reduced effectiveness at adsorbing toxins – Out of date charcoal has lower adsorption capacity so it won’t trap toxins and chemicals as well. This makes it less useful for poisonings or overdoses.
– Increased mold and bacteria – Expired activated charcoal is more likely to contain mold, fungi and bacteria that developed over time. This can sometimes cause gastrointestinal side effects.
– Degraded absorption capacity – The porous structure collapses over time. Very old charcoal may not absorb things well at all.
– Chemical degradation – Chemical changes over time may cause expired charcoal to release unwanted degradation products.
– Intestinal blockages – Old charcoal can solidify and cause obstructions if enough is ingested. This is rare with small amounts.
– Interacts with medications – Reduced effectiveness of any medications taken at the same time. Not recommended for daily medication use.
Despite these possible effects, acute toxicity or serious harm from expired charcoal is unlikely in most people. But you may not get the desired benefits compared to using non-expired activated charcoal.
Can you reuse activated charcoal that has been used?
It is not recommended to reuse or recycle activated charcoal once it has been used. Used activated charcoal becomes saturated with the toxins and chemicals it adsorbed. These remain trapped in the charcoal and can potentially be released back out if reused.
Reusing activated charcoal carries a few potential risks:
– The trapped toxins can be re-released – As new molecules try to adsorb to the used charcoal, previously attached molecules get displaced and released back out. This defeats the purpose of the charcoal.
– It has lower adsorption capacity – The pores and surface area are largely occupied by chemicals already, reducing ability to keep adsorbing new ones.
– Higher risk of bacterial contamination – Bacteria and fungi can multiply on the used charcoal over time.
– The charcoal can degrade and fall apart – Handling used charcoal tablets may cause them to crumble or break apart more easily before use.
For these reasons, activated charcoal is considered a single-use product. Once it has adsorbed toxins from an initial use, it should be discarded. However, some alternate uses for small amounts of used charcoal include:
– Compost additive
– Aquarium or pond filter
– Deodorizer in the fridge
– Craft projects
But in terms of taking activated charcoal as a supplement or medicine, new activated charcoal should always be used.
Can activated charcoal be reactivated if it gets old or wet?
Unfortunately, there is no practical way to reactivate activated charcoal for reuse once it becomes old or wet. Reactivation requires extremely high temperatures that are not feasible except in industrial manufacturing facilities.
Here’s why it’s not realistic to reactivate used activated charcoal:
– Temperatures above 1,000??F are needed – This oxidizes away any adsorbed compounds and re-opens the pores. Home ovens don’t reach anywhere near this temperature.
– Special furnaces and equipment are required – The process needs carefully controlled conditions, special retorts and handling equipment.
– It wastes more energy than making new charcoal – The fuel and energy required to reactivate at home isn’t an efficient use of resources.
– The charcoal can be damaged if not done properly – Poorly controlled reheating can destroy the porous structure rather than rejuvenating it.
– It releases trapped toxins back into the environment – Dangerous off-gassing needs to be properly handled and could harm people or pets in a home setting.
– Minimal cost savings – Given the small amount of charcoal used for health purposes, the benefit of trying to reuse it is negligible.
In summary, reactivating activated charcoal is complex, dangerous, and provides very little benefit. It’s a process best left to industrial manufacturers. The safest option is simply to use fresh activated charcoal within its expiry period, and obtain a new supply when needed.
How can you tell if activated charcoal is no longer effective?
Here are some signs that your activated charcoal may no longer be effective at adsorbing toxins:
– It is past its expiration date – This is the safest indicator. Activated charcoal expires after 1-3 years normally.
– The color has faded – Fresh charcoal is jet black. Fading to gray means it is degrading.
– It doesn’t bubble when placed in water – Active charcoal releases carbon dioxide, causing it to fizz when water is added. Lack of bubbling can mean pores are clogged.
– It has absorbed moisture – Charcoal that has gotten wet or humid can degrade faster and have lower absorption capacity.
– It crumbles more easily – Brittle, fast-powderizing charcoal is often less effective than hard intact tablets.
– It has a reduced odor – Activated charcoal should have a strong odor from adsorbing gases in the air. Less odor means less absorption.
– Medications affect you the same – Charcoal blocks some medication absorption, so normal effects can mean the charcoal isn’t working.
– It was purchased a long time ago – Even if unopened, charcoal stored for more than 2-3 years is likely degraded.
Trusting the expiration date is safest. But these signs of degradation can also indicate your activated charcoal may need to be replaced. When in doubt, starting a fresh supply is recommended.
Does activated charcoal stop working if it gets wet?
Yes, activated charcoal can degrade and stop working properly if it gets wet. Moisture damages the porous internal structure that gives activated charcoal its huge adsorbing surface area.
When activated charcoal gets wet a few things can happen:
– Pores collapse and shrink – Water molecules interact with the porous inner matrix and cause it to collapse inwards on itself as it dries.
– Mold and bacteria start growing – The moisture allows mold, fungi and bacteria to thrive on the charcoal. These release toxins and degrade the charcoal.
– Chemical changes alter the structure – Water can react with and oxidize components of the carbon, changing its chemical composition.
– Adsorbed substances get released – Any adsorbed molecules get displaced by water molecules attaching to the surface.
– Difficult to dry out fully – Even if dried, some moisture usually remains stuck in the pores leading to ongoing degradation.
Multiple studies have shown activated charcoal can lose significant adsorption capacity after getting wet just one time. This is why it’s recommended to keep activated charcoal in an air-tight container in a dry environment. Once it has gotten wet, it is no longer able to function optimally and should be replaced.
Does activated charcoal need to be refrigerated or stored a certain way?
Activated charcoal does not need to be refrigerated, but it should be stored properly to preserve its absorption capacity and shelf life. The recommended storage guidelines for activated charcoal include:
– Keep in an air-tight container – This prevents moisture and gases in the air from degrading the charcoal over time. Glass jars or sealed plastic tubs work well.
– Store in a cool, dry place – Exposure to heat and humidity will speed degradation. A cupboard or pantry away from the stove or windows is ideal.
– Avoid direct sunlight – UV light can interact with the carbon and break down its porous structure more quickly. Keep it in the dark.
– Don’t refrigerate it – The condensation when removing from the fridge can get the charcoal wet. Storing at room temp is preferred.
– Use within 1-3 years – Discard any unused charcoal after the manufacturer’s expiration date has passed.
– Buy smaller quantities if used infrequently – The more the charcoal gets exposed to air over time, the faster it will degrade.
Following these simple guidelines allows activated charcoal to retain its adsorption capacity as long as possible. However, it will gradually lose effectiveness over time regardless of storage conditions.
Conclusion
While activated charcoal is generally considered non-toxic even after it expires, its effectiveness does degrade over time. Allowing activated charcoal to get old, wet, or exposed to humidity can speed the breakdown of its porous internal structure. This greatly reduces its absorptive capacity.
Old activated charcoal can also increase the risk of bacterial contamination or chemical degradation. For these reasons, it’s best to discard activated charcoal after its printed expiration date has passed, or after 1-2 years if no date is provided. An expiration of 6 months to 1 year is the maximum timeline most experts recommend for keeping activated charcoal.
Rather than trying to dry out, reactivate, or reuse activated charcoal once it’s expired or gotten wet, it’s safest to simply acquire a fresh supply. Activated charcoal is readily available in pharmacies, health stores, and online retailers. Storing it properly before opening can help maximize its shelf life. But the small cost of replacing degraded charcoal is worth it to get the maximum adsorption benefits.
