WELL INTERNATIONAL | TAMILNADU | INDIA | https://wellinternational.in In chemical activation, the raw material is impregnated with a chemical agent, typically an acid or an alkali, and then exposed to high temperatures. The chemicals react with the carbon, creating a network of pores and increasing its surface area. Physical activation involves exposing the raw material to high temperatures in the presence of a gas, like carbon dioxide or steam. This process removes impurities and volatiles, creating a porous structure. The resulting activated carbon possesses a vast surface area, often exceeding 1000 square meters per gram, giving it a tremendous adsorption capacity. The adsorption occurs through the phenomenon of Van der Waals forces, which allow activated carbon to attract and retain various molecules, ions, and particles from gases, liquids, and even solutions.