THE USE OF ACTIVATED CARBON AS A FOOD SUPPLEMENT AND ITS BENEFITS TO THE HUMAN BODY

A Research Paper Presented to the

Faculty of Biblica La Delle AcademyIn Marahan II, Alfonso, Cavite

In Partial Fulfillment Of the Requirements in

English Subject IVIn Secondary Education

MICHAEL FENOLOctober 2015

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

I would like to express my deepest gratitude and appreciation to my teacher Mr. ____________________ for giving me the opportunity to conduct a very informative and very beneficial study in my secondary education and for patiently and enthusiastically providing us with an excellent classroom discussion for the said matter.

To my classmates, who have been consistently helping me during the drafting period of my thesis. Likewise, I would like to express my appreciation to my out of school friends, for providing me with reliable research materials and other data resources.

I would also like to thank my parents for their endless support, assistance and suggestions throughout my project study, for helping me accomplish this and never letting me give up.

CHAPTER I

PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND

The use of carbon as a simple remedy for different health problems was an ancient way at treating many common diseases that afflict humankind dates back in the time of Hippocrates who lived from 460 – 370 B.C. The use of charcoal in treating diseases is a product of long years of scientific studies. Raymund Hall said that knowledge of charcoals phenomena capacity for adsorption has been around for millennia. These activated charcoals have been widely used in preventing and curing serious illnesses. It also serves as detoxifying agent of different organs such as liver, kidney and colon. Common charcoal is made from peat, coal, wood, coconut shell, or petroleum. “Activated charcoal” is similar to common charcoal, but is made especially for use as a medicine. To make activated charcoal, manufacturers heat common charcoal in the presence of a gas that causes the charcoal to develop lots of internal spaces or “pores.” These pores help activated charcoal “trap” chemicals.

Activated charcoal adsorbs a wide variety of drugs and chemicals. Adsorption is a process in which atoms and molecules move from a bulk phase (such as a solid, liquid, or gas) onto a solid or liquid surface. In other words, the toxic substance attaches to the surface of the charcoal. Because charcoal is not "digested," it stays inside the GI tract and eliminates the toxin when the person has a bowel movement. Activated charcoal derived its name from the process of taking the charcoal which results from the activity of controlled charring of the starting materials and subjecting it to an oxidizing gas at an elevated temperature which enhances the adsorptive power of the charcoal by developing an extensive internal network of fine pores in the material.

Activated charcoal is a potent natural treatment used to trap toxins

and chemicals in the body, allowing them to be flushed out so the body doesn’t reabsorb them. It’s made from a variety of sources, but when used for natural healing, it is important to select activated charcoal made from coconut shells or other natural sources. One of the most popular activated charcoal uses is for the safe and effective treatment of poisoning and drug overdoses. It’s used in emergency trauma centers across the world. In addition, it’s used to reduce bloating and gas, lower cholesterol and treat bile flow problems safely during pregnancy as well.

A. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

The main problem of the study deals with “determining of the use of Activated Carbon as a food supplement and its impact benefits for the human body.” Likewise the proponent will also attempt to uncover and focus on its medical and therapeutic claims on how it helps our entire body.

B. OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY

The proponent of the study aims to uncover concrete proofs of the health benefits of its consumption to better understand its actual use. Specifically, the proponent aims to deliver a comprehensive and data-based discussion on how its adsorption process removes toxins from the human body.

C. HYPOTHESIS

Ha = The use of Activated Carbon has beneficial effect for the Human Body.

H0 = The use of Activated Carbon has no effect for the Human Body and does not claim any beneficial effect at all.

D. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

This study will be beneficial to all possible stakeholders particularly for the students and faculty staff who might use this study as reference for their future study. Likewise, it will serve as future reference for the researchers on the said subject as secondary data by providing them with comprehensive information.

E. SCOPES AND LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY

The main scope of the study will focus on determining the use of Activated Carbon as food supplement and its benefits to the human body. Secondarily, it will cover some of the factors how it helps and the effect of consumption. However, the study will not cover more detailed information on its manufacturing, but on its scientific claims. Neither the study will encompass a further study on its marketability and on its availability on the marketplace.

F. Definition of Terms

Activated Carbon – it refers to the processed pieces of carbons/charcoals for consumption purposes.

Adsorption – the ability of a matter to hold or to grab some particles.

Control Group – the group of respondents who did take/try/use the subject or the product.

Detoxification – physiological or medicinal removal of toxic substance from a living organism, including, but not limited to, the human body, which is mainly carried out by the liver.

Exploratory Research Design – conducted about a research problem when there are few no earlier studies to refer to. The focus is on gaining insights and familiarity for later investigation or undertaken when problems are in preliminary stage of investigation.

Metabolism – the process of converting food into nutrients.

Poultice – a soft, moist mass of charcoal which are applied to the body parts to relieve soreness and inflammation and kept in place with a cloth.

Respondents – group of people who are invited or assigned as aid for testing a product.

Segmentation – the process of separation and classification to determine the nature or identity according to specific variables.

Test Group – the group of respondents, who actually used, took and tried the subject or the product.

CHAPTER II

REVIEW OF THE RELATED LITERATURE

The existence of Charcoal as medicine had started in 400 B.C. as Hippocrates and other Egyptians used Charcoals in curing Anthrax, Epilepsy and other serious illnesses. These charcoals were also used as healing agents in curing wounds, cleansing agents of different internal organs such as liver, kidney and the colons as well. After the development of the charcoal activation process, it was also used and proven as antidote for poisons and cure for intestinal disorders.

Dr. Frolkis pointed out that;

Activated Charcoal decreases the age related increase in the brain sensitivity to drugs and toxins;

Activated Charcoal normalizes and regulates cholesterol and lipid metabolism;

Activated Charcoal alleviates allergy, headaches, menstrual pain, diarrhea, sore throat irritation, cold sores, flu-like symptoms and drug overdose; and

The regular use of Activated Charcoal improves the adaptive functioning of essential organs (liver, kidney and adrenals) that translate into better defense mechanism.

The most important work of Activated Charcoal in the treatment of diseases is to adsorb chemical substances that are harmful to the body like germs, viruses, toxins, wound secretion and other products of infection.

It was 1831, in front of his distinguished colleagues at the French Academy of Medicine, Professor Touery drank a lethal dose of strychnine and

lived to tell the tale. He had combined the deadly poison with activated charcoal. This is how powerful activated charcoal is as an emergency decontaminant in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, which includes the stomach and intestines. Activated charcoal is considered to be the most effective single agent available. It is used after a person swallows or absorbs almost any toxic drug or chemical.

Activated charcoal is estimated to reduce absorption of poisonous substances nearly to 60%.

It works by binding (adsorbing) chemicals, thus reducing their toxicity (poisonous nature), through the entire length of the stomach and small and large intestines (GI tract).

Activated charcoal itself is a fine, black powder that is odorless, tasteless, and nontoxic.

Activated charcoal is often given after the stomach is pumped (gastric lavage). Gastric lavage is only effective immediately after swallowing a toxic substance (within about one-half hour) and does not have effects that reach beyond the stomach as activated charcoal does. 

Activated charcoal absorbs a wide variety of drugs and chemicals. Adsorption is a process in which atoms and molecules move from a bulk phase (such as a solid, liquid, or gas) onto a solid or liquid surface. In other words, the toxic substance attaches to the surface of the charcoal. Because charcoal is not "digested," it stays inside the GI tract and eliminates the toxin when the person has a bowel movement. This mechanism of action should not be confused with absorption. Absorption occurs when a substance passes into or through a tissue, like water passing into a sponge. Once the chemical or drug has been absorbed by the GI tract, activated charcoal can no longer retrieve the toxic ingestion. It will only attach to substances that are still inside the stomach or intestines.

The charcoal is "activated" because it is produced to have a very fine particle size. This increases the overall surface area and adsorptive capacity of the charcoal. It is produced by adding acid and steam to carbonaceous materials such as wood, coal, rye starch, or coconut shells. To put this in perspective, one standard 50-gram dose of activated charcoal has the surface area of 10 football fields. Activated charcoal is often combined with sorbitol (a substance that stimulates the bowels to move, like a laxative) to shorten the amount of time to move through the system and reduce the possibility of constipation. However, to avoid adverse effects, sorbitol is not given with every dose of activated charcoal. All efforts should be made to reduce adsorption of severely toxic substances, as activated charcoal does not bind as well with these substances:

o Lithium (Eskalith, Lithobid), strong acids and bases, metals and inorganic minerals such as sodium, iron, lead, arsenic, iodine, fluorine, and boric acid.

o Alcohol (such as ethanol, methanol, isopropyl alcohol, glycols, and acetone)

o Hydrocarbons (such as petroleum distillates and plant hydrocarbons such as pine oil)

Activated charcoal does not irritate the mucous membranes of the GI system. In addition to adsorption of toxins, activated charcoal also adsorbs food nutrients, vitamins, and minerals. However, this short-term effect is not a concern when activated charcoal is used to treat poisoning.

If the person vomits the drink, another dose will be given through a nasogastric or orogastric tube (a tube inserted through the nose or mouth, down the esophagus and into the stomach).

If the person is unconscious (or nearly so), an endotracheal intubation (a procedure in which a tube is inserted through the mouth down into the trachea) may be necessary. This allows oxygen to be delivered and helps

protect the airway and lungs from gastric content, which minimizes the risk of the person vomiting and choking.

Activated charcoal is usually given by a doctor. It is not a substance to be used at home. Doctors determine the dose or amount of charcoal to give based on the patient's weight (with special doses for children) and on how much poison was swallowed. There are some doctors who will prescribe charcoal for emergency use in the home. This should only be done under the direct guidance of the doctor or poison control center.

The doctor also determines when and if additional doses are given by monitoring blood levels of the poison. Other symptoms the doctor monitors are nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain, dizziness, and severe heart problems. Multiple doses of activated charcoal can be given if someone swallowed large doses of long-acting, sustained release medications.

When Not to Use Activated Charcoal

Activated charcoal will not be given to people with an obstruction of the intestines or if the person swallowed a corrosive agent, such as a strong acid or alkali.

Strong acids may "burn" through the lining of the GI tract. Doctors will need to look at the lining with an endoscope - a special instrument designed to look inside the stomach. Activated charcoal is not to be used with this type of poison because it is difficult to see the lining of the GI tract with the scope after charcoal is given.

Activated charcoal can cause intestinal problems such as constipation, or it can create clumps of foreign material. This situation can be prevented by giving a laxative such as sorbitol to the patient, however, repeated doses with sorbitol may cause excessive diarrhea, dehydration, and chemical imbalance.

If the patient is fructose intolerant, family members should notify the treating doctor, and sorbitol will not be given with the activated charcoal. Sorbitol is a sugar substitute that acts as a laxative to move the charcoal through the system. Infants younger than one year of age year should not be given sorbitol because it may cause excessive fluid losses.

Reference: http://www.emedicinehealth.com/activated_charcoal/page2_em.htm Medical Author: John P. Cunha, DO, FACOEP Medical Editor: Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

For over 10,000 years, healers from Chinese Medicine, Ayuredic Medicine, and Western Medicine have used activated charcoal to soak up poisons and improve intestinal health through a process called “adsorption” which means “to bind to” rather than “to absorb.”

Today, beyond use in hospitals as an antidote for drugs and poisons, activated charcoal is a global remedy for general detoxification, digestion issues, gas, bloating, heart health, and anti-aging. It is a part of my mold toxin detox protocols. In fact, unscrupulous industrial cattle mills intentionally alter spoiled feed with activated charcoal, knowing it will allow them to increase profits without killing the animals.

Biohackers know the world we live in has more man-made toxins than it used to, and food from industrial restaurants is of questionable quality. Both of these factors can trigger food cravings and lower performance. The difference is dramatic. It often prevents from feeling bloated and tired after eating a big restaurant meal. When I feel unusually moody or suddenly tired, activated charcoal helps get back in the game within minutes.

When young kids suddenly drop into uncharacteristic fits of whining or tantrums, especially after snacks activated charcoal brings them back to normal within about 10 minutes. It is amazing to watch.

Activated charcoal burns a source of carbon such as wood, debris, or better yet, coconut shells. The high temperature removes all the oxygen and activates it with gases like steam. What is produced is a highly adsorbent

material with millions of tiny pores that capture, bind, and remove poisons, heavy metals, chemicals, and intestinal gases which have thousands of times more weight than the charcoal itself. Just two grams of activated charcoal powder has about the same surface area as a football field. The porous surface has a negative electric charge that attracts positively charged unwanted toxins and gas.

Low grade charcoal is commonly used in air and water filters to capture unwanted materials; it’s that dust you see in some filter water pitchers. Toxicology studies show activated charcoal to be harmless to human health.

Ancient physicians used inactivated charcoal for a variety of medical purposes, including treating epilepsy and anthrax. In the early 20th century, the charcoal activation process development sparked many medical journals to publish research revealing activated charcoal as an antidote for poisons and a way to improve intestinal disorders. Current research not only legitimizes these earlier practices of activated charcoal, but also adds to beneficial new ways of using it.

General detoxification – Toxins from low quality, processed food, and environmental pollution are real problems. It is important to help your body eliminate them to promote a healthy digestive system and brain. Chronic exposure to toxins produces cellular damage, allergic reactions, compromised immunity, and more rapid aging. Regular use of activated charcoal can remove unwanted toxins from your body, leaving you feeling renewed and more vibrant, often in minutes! Gut toxins quickly become brain toxins if you don’t eliminate them. Whether or not you are feeling under the weather, activated charcoal helps unwanted bacteria move through your system faster before they spread and multiply, helping you feel better faster.

Relieve digestive issues, gas, and bloating – After digesting foods like beans, the decomposition process from bacteria in your body creates byproducts like gas or diarrhea. Activated charcoal enters the digestive tract and counteracts this process by binding to byproducts and alleviating these digestive issues.

Antidote for drugs, chemicals, and poisons – Charcoal is an age-old remedy for counteracting poison in the body. If you ingest poisons such as bleach, fertilizer, or even alcohol, taking a single large dose of activated charcoal helps your body flush out the poison faster. Activated charcoals adsorb most organic chemicals, many inorganic chemicals, drugs, pesticides, mercury, and even lead, before they harm your body. If you’re poisoned, go to the emergency room! But, there’s no reason you shouldn’t start binding a poison right away. A Bulletproof reader recently inadvertently took a huge dose of Tylenol (the capsules were in the wrong bottle), which is highly toxic to the liver. He realized his mistake, took a handful of activated charcoal capsules, and went to the emergency room. His liver was undamaged, and he credits biohacking.

Rid bad breath, body odor, and skin ailments – Activated charcoal is often used in body detox products and skin products that help relieve insect stings, mushroom poisoning, poison ivy, cholera, bites, and inflammation. Body odor and bad breath is usually a result of toxins leaving the body, which is why taking activated charcoal greatly helps rid bad breath and body odor.

Anti-Aging properties – Studies show activated charcoal prevents many cellular changes associated with aging, adrenal gland, and kidney function. Famous Gerontologists discovered its powerful anti-aging properties in a study showing activated charcoal to increase the average lifespan of older test animals by approximately 34 percent.  Activated charcoal slows the rate

at which the brain becomes increasingly sensitive to toxins as you age, which makes for better cognitive functioning. It also builds a better defense mechanism by improving the adaptive functioning of essential organs like the liver, kidneys, and adrenals.

Better heart health – In a recent study, patients with high cholesterol who took activated charcoal three times a day showed a 25% reduction in total cholesterol. They also doubled their HDL/LDL cholesterol ratio. Studies examining microscopic tissues show a daily dose of activated charcoal may prevent abnormal hardening (sclerosis) in heart and coronary blood vessels. Because activated coconut charcoal is mainly used to remove toxins from the body, it is great to use for the following purposes:

Take it when you eat out at restaurants or eat low quality foods like processed junk food

Take it with bad coffee – it won’t fix the problem, but it helps It is particularly helpful to take when drinking alcohol Take it if you suddenly feel moody or tired Opening a capsule on your toothbrush does amazing things for stained teeth Use during pregnancy to bind toxins Helpful for jet lag

Taking activated coconut charcoal on a daily basis is a great way to help you thrive in an overly toxin-filled environment. It is best to take it between meals and a few hours after using any vitamin or mineral supplements, as it may interfere with the absorption of these into your body. Be sure to take it away from prescription, which won’t enter your body when they bind to charcoal.Reference: https://www.bulletproofexec.com/the-strangest-way-to-detox/

Benefits of Activated Charcoal

Activated charcoal and regular charcoal are almost identical – the only difference is that activated charcoal has been created solely for medicinal use. To create activated charcoal, regular charcoal is heated with a gas that causes the charcoal to expand, creating a porous surface that traps toxins.

Activated charcoal works because it chemically binds other substances to its surface and can absorb thousands of times its own weight. It also has an incredibly large surface area due to all of its pores – one cubic inch of charcoal has the surface area equivalent to a 150,000 square-foot field. This is why just a bit of charcoal can absorb so many toxins, atoms, and ions.

Benefits of Activated Charcoal

1. Rid Your Body of Toxins in Emergency Situations

According to a study published in the journal Medical Toxicology and Adverse Drug Experience, activated charcoal prevents the gastrointestinal absorption of a wide variety of drugs and toxins in emergency situations, and also increases their elimination even after they’ve been absorbed by the body. This includes an overdose of:

Pharmaceutical drugs such as acetaminophen or aspirin, opium, cocaine, and morphine

Toxins from pesticides (including DDT) Mercury, lead, and other chemicals

Activated charcoal is most effective if it’s administered within the first hour of ingestion of the toxin. However, there are some substances that activated charcoal does not work on:

Alcohol Cyanide Metals such as iron and lithium Certain acids that quickly damage internal tissues

Simply put, if you or someone you know has ingested a toxic substance, administering activated charcoal may inactivate the toxicity of the substance and help them pass it far more quickly than their body could on its own. If they’ve ingested a highly toxic substance, a quick administration of activated charcoal could save their life.

It’s important to realize that in the event of an emergency, a qualified health professional should administer activated charcoal, as the needed dosage depends largely on the person being treated, the drug or poison ingested, and how much was ingested. How much toxin is already in the stomach is a huge consideration, because activated charcoal is like a sponge – once its cavities are full, it stops working.

A person should not take activated charcoal if currently taking prescription medication, as it could render your medication useless. It also should not be taken regularly, like a supplement, because it will reduce your body’s absorption of important nutrients from food.

Furthermore, never use charcoal briquettes in place of activated charcoal in the event of a poisoning. Dangerous petrochemicals have been added to commercial briquettes, and it is not the same as activated charcoal. This is why a person should purchase medical-grade activated charcoal to use in the event of an emergency.

2. Relieve Bites and Bee Stings

Mixing a poultice of activated charcoal with a bit of water and cornstarch or flaxseed powder can help cure bee stings, poison ivy rashes, snake bites, spider bites (including highly poisoning bites from the Brown Recluse or Black Widow), and other poisoning bites.

A paper published by I. Makalinao and A.D. Woolf of Harvard Medical School mentions the effectiveness of a charcoal poultice for drawing out poisons from insect and spider bites. Additionally, there are many stories online from people who claim that their lives were saved by applying an activated charcoal poultice to bee stings or spider bites –

especially those who are highly allergic to bee stings and didn’t have epinephrine on hand.

3. Reduce Acne and Improve Skin Health

Because activated charcoal removes toxins, it can help reduce the instances of acne and other skin impurities you might suffer from. It also works wonders for completely removing makeup.

To use activated charcoal on skin, mix one (or one-half) capsule of the powder into a teaspoon of aloe vera gel, one teaspoon of water or rosewater, five drops of tea tree oil, and a pinch of sea salt. Mix these ingredients together until you have an even consistency. But be aware that this face mask is going to be black, and while it can stain your clothing and counter tops, it won’t stain your skin. Apply to your skin, let it dry, and then rinse off. Your skin will feel amazing.

4. Whiten Teeth

The mouth may look really bizarre when brushing with charcoal, but if it is done this daily, changes will be noticed within a couple of weeks. Activated charcoal is odorless and tasteless, so aside from having temporarily black teeth.

It is also important to consider teeth’s sensitivity. Any whitening agent can weaken tooth enamel over time – this is true with commercial products, such as Crest Whitening Strips, and it is true for activated charcoal. If you notice your teeth becoming more sensitive after using activated charcoal, cut down on brushing with it to just once or twice per week, or stop using it altogether.

5. Reduce or Eliminate Gas

Activated charcoal can be effective for reducing gas, especially after eating foods, such as beans, that commonly create excess gas. It can also relieve an upset stomach or nausea. However, it is worth repeating that activated

charcoal should only be taken occasionally to relieve these symptoms, and should not be used every day.

6. Body Detox

Since charcoal does such an amazing job ridding your body of toxins, some people also use it to rid their body of built-up toxins. The length of these cleanses can vary, but they often last a week or two.

Reference: http://www.moneycrashers.com/activated-charcoal-uses-health-benefits/

Activated charcoal is a potent natural treatment used to trap toxins and chemicals in the body, allowing them to be flushed out so the body doesn’t reabsorb them. It’s made from a variety of sources, but when used for natural healing, it’s important to select activated charcoal made from coconut shells or other natural sources.

One of the most popular activated charcoal uses is for the safe and effective treatment of poisoning and drug overdoses. It’s used in emergency trauma centers across the world. In addition, it’s used to reduce bloating and gas, lower cholesterol, treat bile flow problems safely during pregnancy, and even prevent hangovers. Research shows that activated charcoal works better than stomach pumping (gastric lavage) in some situations.

Active refers to adsorption activity: a carbon that is activated has a high capacity for adsorption. The carbon may be produced from practically any source, including vegetable, animal, petroleum, coal, and peat.

Activated carbon (AC) is manufactured in different ways. The physical and chemical properties of AC depend on the source material and the manufacturing process. Much of the variability in activated carbons is due to the variety of source materials, which differ profoundly in their structure and chemical composition. Coconut shell, a popular source for the production of AC for gas phase applications, produces a uniformly porous material with a high percentage of micropores. Carbons produced from hardwood are noted for their greater variability in pore size with a larger percentage of mesopores (Mattson, Mark, 1971). Bone char is another popular source of AC. The presence of calcium and phosphate and a relatively low percentage of carbon (10%) give this material unique sorptive properties, due in part to its coarse pore structure and low percentage of carbon (Bonga, 1982). Peat, petroleum and coal have become important sources for AC production, and they too produce AC of unique character.

Each of these source materials is highly variable. Therefore, given the same manufacturing technique and the same type of source material there still may be variable performance in the resulting AC (Soffel,1978). Various methods have been used to produce activated carbon. These may be classified into two categories: thermal activation which relies on high temperatures (700+ oC) and employs steam or CO2; and, chemical systems which dehydrate the feed stock. Chemical activation with phosphoric acid is used to digest sawdust, wood shavings, or peat (Mattson, Mark, 1971; Houghton, Wildman, 1971). Each method has advantages and disadvantages. The chemical techniques give very high yield of an extremely adsorptive material, but the resultant AC requires further treatment to develop sufficient mechanical strength for certain applications (Baker, 1992). The process variables that impact the physical and chemical properties of the product are the composition of the activation atmosphere, the residence time and temperature of the activation process, and the chemical composition of the atmosphere during cooling

(Mattson, Mark, 1971; Houghton, Wildman, 1971). In the case of “soft” coals and certain other feed materials, a pulverizing stage is necessary to obtain desired material properties. With increased burn-off, porosity increases, particularly in the microporous region. A two-stage process may be employed. Typically these procedures are performed in a controlled-atmosphere furnace with a fixed bed. The activation stage may also be performed using a fluidized bed: the result is a more uniform activation. The initial stage is a carbonization step which takes place in an oxygen-starved atmosphere (pyrolysis). This stage is followed by selective oxidation with steam, air, or flue gas. Depending on the raw material and the desired product, the initial stage may be completed at temperatures in the range of 230-700oC. The initial stage removes volatiles and inorganics. The subsequent stage may take place with temperatures ranging from 700-1000o C in the presence of steam, or occasionally, air.

The second stage may also beperformed at temperatures that exceed 1000oC under a CO2 atmosphere, resulting in a minimum of surface oxidation and a maximum surface area (Mattson, Mark, 1971; Houghton, Wildman, 1971). The atmosphere during cooling plays a key role in determining surface properties.

Evolution of pore volume with carbon burn-off for a carbon series (adapted from RodriguezReinoso, Linares-Solano, 1989). As the percentage of burn-off increases, the micropore percentage of the total pore volume increases.

The principal properties for comparison of various activated carbons are the pore-size distribution, surface area, chemical reactivity (surface chemistry), density, and ash content (Soffel, 1978).

Reference: THE EFFECT OF ACTIVATED CARBON ON THE ORGANIC AND ELEMENTAL COMPOSITION OF PLANT TISSUE CULTURE MEDIUM by: Stephen C. Van Winkle

Gerber and Lechavalier (1965) first identified geosmin as a metabolite from actinomycetes. They isolated six strains of Streptomyces sp. and grew them in a culture of soybean. Geosmin, produced in µg/L quantities in laboratory cultures, was identified using gas chromotrography. Field identification was still not possible at this time because of the extremely low concentrations present in nature (ng/L). Medsker et al. (1968) a few years later discovered geosmin and an unnamed compound (later MIB) were also produced by cyanobacteria (blue-green algae). Medsker et al. used laboratory produced strains of Strepnuscorum sp. and Oscillatoria sp. Following Medsker and colleague’s work, Tabachek and Yurkowski (1976) identified MIB as a metabolite of both cyanobacteria and actinomycetes.

Researchers continued to investigate the cyanobacteria and actinomycetesresponsible for taste and odor episodes throughout the world in the early 1980s.Izaguirre et al. (1982, 1983) found four species responsible for MIB and geosmin in three southern California reservoirs. They used Grob closed-loop stripping followed by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. Izaguirre et al. (1983) went further to state that one species (O. curviceps), was the principal cause of the 2 previous years’ MIB problems. The O. curviceps was cultivated in the laboratory both with and withoutactinomycetes that coexist with the cyanobacteria in the environment, to ensure that the cyanobacterium was the MIB producer. During the same period, Yagi et al. (1983)9 10 isolated two cyanobacteria from Lake Biwa in Japan. Lake Biwa, a large reservoir used for drinking water supply, commonly experienced severe taste and odor episodes.Improvements in analytical equipment allowed Yagi et al. to measure MIB and geosmin

at concentrations below the odor threshold. They used purge and trap methods to concentrate the samples before using gas chromatography to identify the pollutants. Similar research continued around the world. In Saskatchewan, Canada, Slater and Blok (1983) found three species of geosmin producing microorganisms in Buffalo Pound Lake. Liquid-liquid extractions isolated the geosmin for analysis. Slater and Blok used the findings from the two previous decades and the improved analytical capabilities to further science by identifying specific cyanobacteria and actinomycetes responsible for the taste and odor episodes. Research after Slater and Blok focused on identifying additional tasteand odor-compound producing organisms, and the factors that influence their proliferation in water supplies.

Activated carbon is a powerful adsorbent utilized by many industries and has been for many years. Water and wastewater treatment, industry effluents, brewery wastes, and textile discharges are some of the applications for activated carbon today. Early examples of rudimentary activated carbon use was found as early as the Egyptians and the Phoenicians (Dabrowski 2001), but the activated carbon industry began when the Russian Ostrejko patented techniques for producing activated carbon using elevated temperatures and oxidant flows (Ostrejko 1901).

Activated Carbon Production

Carbonaceous precursor

Activated carbons can be produced from many different carbonaceous precursors. Ideal precursors have a high percentage of carbon content, are abundant and easy to recover. A high percentage of carbon content (i.e. low ash content) translates to more surface area available for adsorption. Common carbonaceous precursors utilized in the modern activated carbon industry include: peat, bituminous and lignite coal, wood, and coconut shell (Wigmans 1989).

One area of activated carbon research involves the discovery of new, more efficient precursors for use in full-scale production. Precursors such as bituminous and lignite coal are non-renewable, and therefore should not be relied on for long-term usage. In addition, many parts of the world do not have these materials readily available. Alternative sources of carbonaceous precursors allow these regions to produce activated carbon in an economic fashion, without the high cost of long distance shipping. Warhurst et al. (1997) studied the potential for activating seed husks from the Moringa oleifera tree. Moringa oleifera is common in developing parts of the world and has many uses, therefore finding a use for the seed husks (a waste product) could further aid these communities. Numerous other researchers have studied potential waste products for use as carbonaceous precursors for activated carbon with varying degrees of success.

Examples of precursors include: almond shells, olive stones, apricot stones, paper mill

sludge, apple pulp, rice husks, cedar nutshells, and corncob.

Reference: (Linares-Solano et al. 1980, Gonzalez et al. 1994, Gergova and Eser 1996, Khalili et al. 2000, Suarez-Garcia et al. 2001, Baklanova et al. 2003, Guo et al. 2003, El-Hendawy 2003).

Activated Carbon Adsorption

For many decades a myriad of different industries used activated carbon to removeor separate compounds in the aqueous phase. Specifically water treatment utilities use activated carbon to remove many contaminants, such as synthetic organic chemicals, volatile organic compounds, and taste- and odor-causing compounds (Snoeyink 1990). This ability to remove unwanted compounds from water led the EPA to name activated carbon as a best available technology for water purveyors needing to meet federal regulations. Activated carbon is known as an excellent adsorbent; this is primarily 30 because of its large surface area, but also

because of activated carbon’s amphoteric surface. Determining the removal performance for specific compounds as well as the mechanisms involved in the adsorption onto activated carbon is extremely difficult, because of the nano-scale of the interaction and the large number of controls for the experiments. These difficulties have led researchers to many different conclusions throughout the past five decades.

Adsorption Principles

In order for a compound to adsorb to a surface, a driving force must exist so that the compound will leave the aqueous phase. Examples of these include hydrophobic forces, electrostatic forces, chemical attractions or van der Waals forces (Weber Jr. 1972). Electrostatic forces drive adsorption when an ionic compound encounters oppositely charged ionic adsorbent. Although these forces are a result of the charge of the compounds and their chemical make-up, adsorption due to electrostatic forces is classified as physical adsorption. This is likely because of the low energy level that exists when compounds adsorb in this manner. Despite the lower energy, electrostatic interactions are important to adsorption, since they have longer reaching effects then other major driving forces.

Physical adsorption is commonly associated with van der Waals forces, which also drive adsorption in the aqueous phase. The mechanisms for van der Waals forces to drive adsorption are the result of various dipole interactions, and therefore the two surfaces must be extremely close in order for adsorption to occur. van der Waals forces are very important though in adsorption in the aqueous phase, particularly in activated carbon. A majority of the internal surface area in activated carbon is similar to a graphitic plane (i.e., without free electrons or other active sites for reactions). On this type of surface, adsorption will primary be a result of van der Waals forces.

Compounds can also adsorb via chemical means as well as the physical methods described above. Chemical adsorption occurs when the adsorption energy between the two surfaces is high. An example of chemical adsorption is when a compound chemically bonds to the surface to which it is adsorbing. Activated carbons often have chemical functional groups at the edges of the graphitic planes, therefore compounds can adsorb strongly via chemical adsorption to these active sites.

Adsorbates and adsorbents affinity to water also affect adsorption. Hydrophobic compounds often adsorb readily to solid surfaces due to their desire to leave the aqueous phase. The tendency of a compound to leave the aqueous phase is often quantified using the octanol-water partition coefficient. Compounds with high octanol-water coefficients are classified as hydrophobic since they prefer to partition into the octanol over water. The hydrophobic/hydrophilic nature of the adsorbent also affects adsorption in the aqueous phase. For example, an absorbent with a hydrophilic surface will wet easily. An adsorbent with a wetted surface may not perform well because of interference of watermolecules on the surface or edges of pores.

Diffusion, another important adsorption principle, defines the ability of the adsorbate to get to and find a permanent adsorption site. There are three phases of diffusion according to Weber Jr. (1972): bulk diffusion, intra-particle diffusion, and final adsorption. Understanding each phase of diffusion is important in order to determine which is the limiting step (i.e., longest time) in the particular adsorption conditions. The first, bulk diffusion, is the path the compound takes to get from the aqueous phase into the solid adsorbent. Bulk diffusion is often the limiting step in systems where there is no mixing and contact between the compound and the adsorbent is not forced.

The second phase of diffusion occurs inside the adsorbent, as the compound travels to a spot for permanent adsorption (Weber Jr. 1972).

Termed intra-particle diffusion, this phase can be the limiting step when the adsorbent does not have adequate macro- or mesoporosity. Reducing the particle size of the adsorbent can reduce the time of intra-particle diffusion,making permanent adsorption sites closer. The final phase of diffusion is the compound finding a permanent site for adsorption. This last step is impacted greatly by the driving forces discussed above. Adsorbents with numerous adsorption sites that are attractive to the adsorbate promote a rapid final diffusion step.

Activated Carbon Pore Structure

Activated carbons’ internal structure is based upon that of pure graphite; the former being much less organized than the latter. Ideal graphite is a limitless system of fused hexagons of carbon atoms. Three of the carbon’s atoms’ four outer valence electrons engage in covalent bonds with neighboring atoms, while the fourth resonates between different bond structures (Snoeyink and Weber 1967). The parallel layers of carbon hexagons (graphitic planes) are held together via van der Waals forces, at a distance approximately 3.35 Å apart (Snoeyink and Weber 1967). This structure creates a very homogenous physical surface with little internal area. As stated above, activated carbon’s structure is much less organized than graphite.

During activation, the graphitic planes are disrupted, thereby creating the internal surface area and porous network activated carbon is known for. The increase in the number of pores and surface area also creates many more edges (edge sites) than that of graphite. The higher number of edge sites increases the number of unbonded carbons available, leading to more chemical reactions and 33 surface functional groups at these edge sites. Therefore, an activated carbon would have more surface functional groups than graphite exposed to the same conditions. Moreover, the increased

number of functional groups will contribute heavily to the adsorptive ability of the activated carbon.

The pore structure of activated carbon is commonly divided into micropores (< 20 Å), mesopores (20-500 Å), and macropores (>500 Å). Micropores generally constitute the majority of the surface area and pore volume in activated carbons, over 90% in some cases (Tomkow et al. 1977). Micropores are very important for aqueous and air phase applications as they are closest in size to many of the target pollutants. Meso- and macropores also have important roles as they provide diffusion pathways to the internal pores and serve as adsorption sites for larger compounds (e.g., NOM).

Pore structure affecting the adsorption of organics

The extent to which an organic compound adsorbs is often determined by the surface area and pore volume that exists within the activated carbon. Kasaoka et al. (1989) performed adsorption experiments involving organics and activated carbon in hopes of finding a relationship between the molecular size of the adsorbate and the pore widths in the adsorbent. Here organic compounds preferred to adsorb in pores 1.5 to 2 times their size, and therefore micropores are very important since many target compounds fit into this size range. Other experiments with organic dyes produced similar results, as carbons with more surface area and volume in pores similar in size to that of the target dye performed better in adsorption experiments (Krupa and Cannon 1996). Based on these findings, one could predict that many organic pollutants would adsorb primarily in the micropores of activated carbons. However, these studies were performed at equilibrium and therefore diffusion did not impact the results. Diffusion will affect the degree of adsorption of all compounds when shorter contact times are used.

Activated Carbon Adsorption

For many decades a myriad of different industries used activated carbon to remove or separate compounds in the aqueous phase. Specifically water treatment utilities use activated carbon to remove many contaminants, such as synthetic organic chemicals, volatile organic compounds, and taste- and odor-causing compounds (Snoeyink 1990). This ability to remove unwanted compounds from water led the EPA to name activated carbon as a best available technology for water purveyors needing to meet federal regulations.

Activated carbon is known as an excellent adsorbent; this is primarily 30 because of its large surface area, but also because of activated carbon’s amphoteric surface. Determining the removal performance for specific compounds as well as the mechanisms involved in the adsorption onto activated carbon is extremely difficult, because of the nano-scale of the interaction and the large number of controls for the experiments. These difficulties have led researchers to many different conclusions throughout the past five decades.

Adsorption Principles

In order for a compound to adsorb to a surface, a driving force must exist so that the compound will leave the aqueous phase. Examples of these include hydrophobic forces, electrostatic forces, chemical attractions or van der Waals forces (Weber Jr. 1972). Electrostatic forces drive adsorption when an ionic compound encounters oppositely charged ionic adsorbent. Although these forces are a result of the charge of the compounds and their chemical make-up, adsorption due to electrostatic forces is classified as physical adsorption. This is likely because of the low energy level that exists when compounds adsorb in this manner. Despite the lower energy, electrostatic interactions are important to adsorption, since they have longer reaching effects then other major driving forces.

Physical adsorption is commonly associated with van der Waals forces, which also drive adsorption in the aqueous phase. The mechanisms for van der Waals forces to drive adsorption are the result of various dipole interactions, and therefore the two surfaces must be extremely close in order for adsorption to occur. van der Waals forces are very important though in adsorption in the aqueous phase, particularly in activated carbon. A majority of the internal surface area in activated carbon is similar to a graphitic plane 31 (i.e., without free electrons or other active sites for reactions). On this type of surface, adsorption will primary be a result of van der Waals forces.

Compounds can also adsorb via chemical means as well as the physical methods described above. Chemical adsorption occurs when the adsorption energy between the two surfaces is high. An example of chemical adsorption is when a compound chemically bonds to the surface to which it is adsorbing. Activated carbons often have chemical functional groups at the edges of the graphitic planes, therefore compounds can adsorb strongly via chemical adsorption to these active sites.

Adsorbates and adsorbents affinity to water also affect adsorption. Hydrophobic compounds often adsorb readily to solid surfaces due to their desire to leave the aqueous phase. The tendency of a compound to leave the aqueous phase is often quantified using the octanol-water partition coefficient. Compounds with high octanol-water coefficients are classified as hydrophobic since they prefer to partition into the octanol over water. The hydrophobic/hydrophilic nature of the adsorbent also affects adsorption in the aqueous phase. For example, an absorbent with a hydrophilic surface will wet easily. An adsorbent with a wetted surface may not perform well because of interference of water molecules on the surface or edges of pores.

Diffusion, another important adsorption principle, defines the ability of the adsorbate to get to and find a permanent adsorption site. There are three phases of diffusion according to Weber Jr. (1972): bulk diffusion, intra-

particle diffusion, and final adsorption. Understanding each phase of diffusion is important in order to determine which is the limiting step (i.e., longest time) in the particular adsorption conditions. The first, bulk diffusion, is the path the compound takes to get from the aqueous phase into the solid adsorbent. Bulk diffusion is often the limiting step in systems where there is no mixing and contact between the compound and the adsorbent is not forced.

The second phase of diffusion occurs inside the adsorbent, as the compound travels to a spot for permanent adsorption (Weber Jr. 1972). Termed intra-particle diffusion, this phase can be the limiting step when the adsorbent does not have adequate macro- or mesoporosity. Reducing the particle size of the adsorbent can reduce the time of intra-particle diffusion, making permanent adsorption sites closer. The final phase of diffusion is the compound finding a permanent site for adsorption. This last step is impacted greatly by the driving forces discussed above. Adsorbents with numerous adsorption sites that are attractive to the adsorbate promote a rapid final diffusion step.

CHAPTER III

METHODOLOGY

A. METHODOLOGY

The proponent of the study had chosen an exploratory research design to better uncover and better determine whether the use of Activated Carbon are truly beneficial to our body or not through using intensive research with the use of test group and the control group. The test group is composed of respondents who claim to have some health issues or problems and who actually used and consumed activated carbon while the control group is composed of respondents who likewise claim some health problems but did not take the activated carbon. This kind of study is done to better achieve research transparency so as to avoid result mistake and data manipulation.

B. METERIALS

The materials used in this study are the activated carbon capsules as the subject and the paper sheets which were used during the data gathering process.

C. PROCEDURE

The proponent of the study had utilized probability sampling through identifying random respondents from Alfonso, Cavite. The first group was composed of respondents who claimed to have health issues or problems and who were willing to try the activated carbon, thus, referred to as the test group. On the other hand, there was a group of respondents who likewise claim to have any health problems or issues but did not take activated carbon.

D. DATA GATHERING

The data gathering process was done through series of trials and demonstrations and with utmost care among all respondents. The proponent had made drafts of simple tabulations for basic data segmentation. The use of data which were sought during the observation phase was likewise taken into consideration to formulate concrete evidence showing the health benefit of Activated Carbon.

E. PREPARATION

The initial investigation for the use of Activated Carbon was done through series of literature review prior to actual test to determine its credibility and its side effects as well. Next, the proponent had made some sort of advices of the experts to better gain knowledge about the matter. After gaining more information, the proponent had decided to execute the research proper to its respondents. This investigation lasted for about four (4) weeks between the test and the control group. During the span of the investigation, the proponent was able uncover some of the most common study target such as its internal cleansing effect and its adsorption efficiency.

CHAPTER IV

PRESENTATION ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION

A. RESPONDENT SEGMENTATION

1. Age of the Respondents17-20

21-24

25-28

29-32

33-36

37-40

41-44

45-48

49-52

Total

3 6 2 4 7 1 8 4 5 40

The able above shows the age segmentation of the respondents with 17 as the youngest and 52 as the oldest in the observation.

2. Gender of the Respondents

M F Total22 18 40

The table above shows the gender segmentation of the respondents. Fifty-five (55%) percent of the total respondents are male while only forty-five (45%) percent of those are female.

3. Commonly Raised Health Problems by the Respondents

Common Health Problems

No. of Respondents

Headache 12Fluctuating body temperature and blood pressure

8

Cough 8

Diarrhea 6Skin Problems 3

Body Odor 3TOTAL 40

The table above shows the commonly health problems rose by the respondents.Twelve (12) or thirty (30%) percent of the total respondents claim to have been experiencing headache. Next to it are the fluctuating body temperature and blood pressure and cough having claimed by eight (8) respondents or twenty (20%) percent respectively. After this, is diarrhea which is claimed by six (6) or fifteen (15%) percent of the total respondents. However, the health problems with the lowest observations fall under skin problems and body odor which are claimed by three (3) respondents or roughly eight (8%) percent of the total respondents.

4. Research Stand of the Respondents

Test Group Control Group

TOTAL

20 20 40

The table above shows the distribution of the respondents according to research stand. The respondents are equally divided according to their raised health problems so as to match the other having the same health condition.

B. PRESENTATION OF SIGNIFICANT DATA

Research Phase and Group Assignment

The flow of the study went through series of observation and segmentation to maintain information accuracy and result transparency. Respondents were subdivided according to their claimed health problems prior to actual use of the product. Six (6) out of twelve (12) respondents of those who claimed to have headache were assigned as part of the test group who will try the activated carbon while the remaining six (6) were assigned to be part of the control group who will not take the activated carbon.

The same respondents’ division pattern was executed to the other respondents with other health problems. After 4 weeks of comprehensive observations, the respondents who took activated carbon were able to conceptualize their own feedback for the said product. The following details in the table show the respondents’ satisfaction after initial use of activated carbon.

Feedback of the Respondents from the Test Group

Headache Fluctuating body Temperature

Fluctuating Blood Pressure

Cough

YES 4NO 1

UNDCD

1

TOTA 6

YES 2NO 0

UNDCD

0

TOTA 2

YES 2NO 0

UNDCD

0

TOTA 2

YES 3NO 1

UNDCD

0

TOTA 4

L L L L

Feedback of the Respondents from the Control Group

Headache Fluctuating body Temperature

Fluctuating Blood Pressure

Cough

YES 1NO 3

UNDCD

2

TOTAL

6

YES 1NO 1

UNDCD

0

TOTAL

2

YES 2NO 0

UNDCD

0

TOTAL

2

YES 1NO 2

UNDCD

1

TOTAL

4

The tables above show the difference among the results of the study according to respondents’ feedback. As compared, the respondents from the test group who claimed to have headache and those who took the activated carbon

Diarrhea Skin Problems Body OdorYES 2NO 0

UNDCD

1

TOTAL

3

YES 1NO 1

UNDCD

0

TOTAL

2

YES 1NO 1

UNDCD

0

TOTAL

2

Diarrhea Skin Problems Body OdorYES 1NO 2

UNDCD

0

TOTAL

3

YES 1NO 0

UNDCD

0

TOTAL

1

YES 0NO 1

UNDCD

0

TOTAL

1

gave a very satisfying result as it is one of the most crucial evidence to prove the health benefits of activated carbon in the human body having four of the respondents from this category claimed to have felt relief after taking the Activated Carbon.

Likewise, the respondents from the test group who claimed to have fluctuating body temperature and fluctuating blood pressure gave a very reliable claim as they have been experiencing these in the last six (6) months. All respondents with these presumed health problems claimed to have their blood pressure and body temperature back to normal after two weeks of continuous use of Activated Carbon. Next to it are those respondents who claimed to have cough and who took the Activated Carbon as well.

Among the four respondents, three (3) of them or seventy-five (75%) percent of the respondents from this category claimed to have a relief after using Activated Carbon as a food supplement while only one (1) or twenty-five percent of the respondents claimed that using Activated Carbon as a food supplement has no effect at all. Following this figure was the respondents who had experienced having diarrhea in the last three weeks. Two (2) out of three (3) respondents or roughly sixty-seven (67%) percent of the total respondents from this category had claimed to have a relief after taking Activated Carbon while only one (1) respondent or roughly thirty-three percent from this category had claimed to be undecided due to some of the alternative means used.

The category with the smallest number of respondents, however, delivered the same result as both of them had one (1) respondent or fifty (50%) percent respectively who claimed to have a relief and experienced good result after using the product.

The second table however shows the result of the study from the respondents of the control group. In this group, the respondents who claimed

to have headache and did not take the Activated Carbon gave these information. Only one (1) respondent or roughly seventeen (17%) of the respondents from this group had claimed to have a relief from headache without taking Activated Carbon or any medicine. Three (3) of the respondents from this group or fifty (50%) percent of the respondent claimed to remain their headache without taking activated carbon in the same span against those who actually took the product. From this group also, there were two (2) respondents or thirty-three from this category who claimed to be undecided whether not taking Activated Carbon or any medicine since they preferred having a bed rest for the same span of time against those who took the product.

For the next category, the respondents who claimed to have fluctuating body temperature; there was an equal result between having a relief and still remained the same condition for not taking the Activated Carbon for the same span of time.

For the next category, the group of respondents who claimed experiencing serious fluctuation of blood pressure had claimed that both of these respondents were able to find a relief without taking the product. Another control group category was the group of respondents who claimed to have cough in the last 6 weeks. Without taking Activated Carbon or any medicine, only one (1) of them was able to recover and claimed to find a relief from cough. Two (2) of the respondents from this category remained to have experienced cough and the other respondent claimed to be undecided.

For those respondents who had claimed to have diarrhea, only one (1) respondent or thirty-three (33%) from this category claimed to recover from this illness during the same span of study against those who actually took the product while two (2) or roughly sixty-seven (67%) percent of the respondents from this category.

For the respondent who claimed to have skin problem, the respondent was able to recover from such illness in the time span against those who took the product and the respondent who previously claimed to have experienced body odor claimed to remain in his condition.

These data-based illustration show significant factor that the use of Activated Carbon as a food supplement is truly efficient and beneficial to our body. Having the use of this kind of research pattern, the proponent of the study believes that the continuous intake of Activated carbon can truly help cleanse our body through its adsorption abilities.

CHAPTER V

SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

A. SUMMARY

The proponent of the study had conducted a research that primarily aimed to find out the health benefits of Activated Carbon as a food supplement through the utilization of an exploratory type of research design with a probability sampling technique to better determine its scientific nature and its effects to the human body. Secondarily, the purpose of the study is to better understand its so-called “adsorptive property” which made this

product very unique and very interesting in the field of medicine and to the marketplace as well.

During the span of study, the proponent had drafted an intensive means of gathering information for information accuracy and results transparency through group segmentation namely the test group and the control group. By the end of the study, the proponent had gather relevant data which were later converted into data-based information with very concrete evidence from the experience of actual respondents. Relatively, the proponent had also utilized some the documents from its related literature as guideline for the execution of the study.

B. CONCLUSION

After careful and comprehensive review of the entire study, the proponent was able to conceptualize a significant claim proving the use of Activated Carbon as food supplement is beneficial for the human body. Toxins in inside the body can be thoroughly eliminated when Activated Carbon is applied or taken through its adsorptive property. It has the ability to hold on toxins and other bacteria in our body and eliminates these through waste disposal internal parts of the body and through washing for external parts.

Based on different reviews and on actual data gathering, it has been observed that the use of Activated Carbon can be an efficient alternative to the use of expensive medicines and other expensive health products available in the marketplace. Furthermore, the consistency of the statements of the respondents was also used as basis for the interpretation of the significant data sought during the research phase. The use of both test group control group had been useful particularly in analyzing the effects of the products to its users.

C. RECOMMENDATIONS

The proponent hereby recommends that the use of Activated Carbon as a food supplement or as an alternative to commercialized medicines must be taken into consideration. The proponent likewise recommends for the existence of a government-sponsored program so as to address the people about the benefits of this product and the proper use and application as well. The existence of this product in the marketplace in our industry might play a vital role particularly for those who are in need of alternative products.

Moreover, the existence of these products in some of the leading products in the market signifies the start of new product line in which manufacturer can truly provide health benefits to their customers. The proof that the Activated Carbon has been proven to be helpful on detoxifying our body, this study can be a strong basis of the decision-making process. The result of the study might also be the way for a new avenue of a study that seek to better improve our living using the Activated Carbon in different ways.

The existence of a health program in the form of a law or even an ordinance that educates people about the proper use and application of this product is highly encouraged for better healthy lifestyle while avoiding too much expense on other food supplement and other medicines.