Definition of Activated Charcoal

Another name for activated charcoal is activated carbon, which is a highly absorbent carbon used for deodorization. It is obtained by heating granulated charcoal to exhaust contained gases.

 

This is not the same substance as charcoal used for grill cooking. It must be marked as activated and generally can be bought at drugstores, but is most commonly found at pet stores in bulk quantities where it is also sold for deodorization.

 

When being used for removal of odors from a refrigerator, the charcoal should be spread out in a small pan and placed in the refrigerator. The amount and size of the charcoal determines the amount of time it must stay in the refrigerator.

 

The charcoal will absorb moisture until it becomes so saturated that it can no longer absorb the moisture (odors). After the charcoal has become saturated, you can place it in a pan, and bake it in the oven at low heat for a couple of hours to rejuvenate or reactivate it.