Spuzzum
Well-Known Member
Chemviron Carbon: Recycling through Thermal Reactivation
Reactivation
Once granular carbon is saturated or the treatment objective is reached, it can be recycled, by thermal reactivation, for reuse. Reactivation involves treating the spent carbon in a high temperature reactivation furnace to over 800°C. During this treatment process, the undesirable organics on the carbon are thermally destroyed. Recycling by thermal reactivation is a highly skilled process, to ensure that spent carbon is returned to a reusable quality. Chemviron Carbon operates Europes largest reactivation facilities and daily recycles large quantities of spent carbon for a diverse range of customers. Recycling activated carbon by thermal reactivation meets the environmental need to minimise waste, reducing CO2 emissions and limiting the use of the worlds resources.
http://www.chemvironcarbon.com/en/activated-carbon-reactivation
Says you need at leat 800C/1696F. If you had a propane camping stove or bbq.. propane burns at a max of 1995 °C/3623 °F...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Propane_torch
... but you'd need a bbq or stove that doesn't max out at 600C... need to modify the valve to one of the burners.. need to crank open a 1/4 or 1/2 turn more. Then test from lowest/almost closed valve.. then lightly crank open bit by bit, waiting 15 mins between trials.. checking thermostat each time as well.
Once you have the stove part.. then a cast iron pan and lid. Cast iron doesn't melt until 1200-1350C/2544-2862F.
2.1.3 METALS/Melting points and flame colours
http://www.tcforensic.com.au/docs/article10.html
If you can get the burner to 900C/1908F, then you "should" have enough for the carbon, and still be well below the melt point of the cast iron.
You can also get a camp fire, or even the fireplace up to a bit more than 1100C.
Code:
1.2 COLOR TEMPERATURES OF HEAT
Dull red 500°-600°
Dark red 600°-800°
[COLOR="red"]Bright red 800°-1000°[/COLOR]
Yellow red 1000°-1200°
Bright yellow 1200°-1400°
White 1400°-1600°
1.3 TEMPERATURES DURING BUILDING FIRES
Hot gas layer 600°-1000°
Floor temperature >180°
Glowing smoldering combustion to 600°
Flashover >600°
[COLOR="red"]Glowing coals to 1300°[/COLOR]There's also peeps talking about using a microwave.. not sure if I'd want to try that one...
You cant reactivate, you have to have bla bla bla...... The stuff in my Hydrofarm can looks like pet store carbon. Heating to 600 degrees in 4 one hour cycles will give new life to your filter media.... if it is the crap that didn't last even a full year like HF don't bother unless you just want to save the shell and use new media.