Production of Pharmaceutical Grade Activated Carbon

Surface area is one of the important parameters for activated carbon. But the parameter surface area does not always represent the quality and use of the activated carbon. This is because it is related to the size of the molecule that is intended to be adsorbed from the activated carbon. Activated carbon has different pore size and distribution structures depending on the raw material and the production process. The pore size includes micropore (adsorption section, <2 nm), mesopore (transport pores, 2-50 nm) and macropore (access pores, 50-1000 nm). A typical commercial activated carbon has an internal surface area of ​​around 1000 m2 / gram with an internal pore volume of 0.3-3 ml / gram. A certain molecule of a certain size can only enter the activated carbon pores if it is smaller, and vice versa. The target molecule to be adsorbed with its size must be adjusted to the type of activated carbon used.

The use of activated carbon as a drug was recorded starting from the use of charcoal as a drug that had been carried out in ancient Greece. Its use at that time to treat digestive problems and even continues to this day such as overcoming the problem of overdosing the drug in the stomach. Along with the development of the era, activated carbon products can replace the use of charcoal. One of the important uses of activated carbon in the pharmaceutical field is to depyrogenate solutions for hypodermic infections. Many of these solutions are contaminated with bacterial poisons that cannot be removed by filtration or by sterilization. These poisons have acute reactions with living things and cause an increase in body temperature. Activated carbon when used has a depyrogenation effect and can be used directly for this. Only high purity activated carbon can be used so that it does not affect or cause other reactions with the solution. Purification and decolorization of compounds such as glycerol, lactic acid and its salts, betaine, glutamic acid, and tartaric acid and its salts generally use activated carbon.

"Allah SWT has made a disease and also the medicine. Allah SWT makes every disease have a cure. Then seek treatment, but do not seek treatment with the haram medicines. "(Narrated by Abu Daud no. 3874.).

"The Prophet sallallaahu‘ alaihi wa sallam forbade from drugs which are khobits (which are haram or dirty). "(Narrated by Abu Daud no. 3870, Tirmidhi no. 2045 and Ibn Majah no. 3459).

Concerns about the lack of halal medicines should also be a motivation for Muslims to produce various medicines themselves. Drugs such as food and beverages that enter our stomach are not arbitrary for us to consume. The halal of these products is far more important than the expected benefits, so we must really pay attention (QS 80: 24-32). The Prophet Muhammad ordered his followers to only seek treatment with something halal like the two hadiths above. Activated carbon can be used as a medicine or as an auxiliary material for the production of various kinds of medicines, and also must be ensured its halalness. This is because technically activated carbon can be produced from haram ingredients such as pork bones. Of course this still requires a lot of the struggle of the Muslims with full sincerity and patience so that actually getting the medicines needed is clearly halal.

Rotating Kiln for Steam (Physical) Activation

The production of activated carbon for use in the food and pharmaceutical sectors or drugs can only be done by activating physics, most of which use steam. This is because when using chemical activation such as with H3PO4, ZnCl2 and KOH, it is feared that contamination of activated carbon products will occur. The production process with physics activation is also more environmentally friendly than chemical activation. In addition to obtaining high purity activated carbon, the mineral contents in the ashes such as Ca, Mg, Si, Fe and so on must also be minimized to a minimum even if they can be removed completely. The process of removing minerals in the ash is carried out after the activation process by washing. Whereas in the process of producing activated carbon efficiently so it is very economical, it is better to use a continuous pyrolysis (carbonization) unit so that in addition to producing charcoal as the main product, also by-products that can be used as energy sources, and for more details can be read here.