Absorbent and Adsorbent
On the standard Word processor program the words ‘adsorbent’ and ‘adsorption’ often are flagged with a wiggly red line as being misspellings. It is not the case and understanding the difference between the two terms is the key to understanding one aspect of bamboo charcoal.
Absorbent explained
To put it simply, absorbent refers to a material’s ability to take into its own lattice or chamber another substance. Like for example of cotton soaking up water or a sponge taking in water. The water penetrates the structure of the absorbent material. Thus, absorption is a function of the volume of the absorbent material and its ability to hold another substance.
Adsorbent explained
In contrast adsorption refers to one substance bonding to the surface of an adsorbent material. The substance being adsorbed doesn’t ‘enter’ the lattice of the adsorbent material. A good example is static electricity: it draws dust to the surface of an electrical appliance and bonds with the dust holding it.
As a consequence of adsorption occurring on the surface of a material it is not the volume that is determinate of a material’s adsorption capacity but its surface area.
Bamboo charcoal has a massive surface area to weight ratio of 600:1 and is thus an excellent adsorbent material. It can effectively adsorb the bad smells from a room and the humidity from the air. It also is useful for taking the impurities out of water.
It might sound slightly metaphorical but bamboo charcoal and bamboo vinegar has been used for centuries in the East for ‘drawing out’ poisons and toxins from the human body. One of the reasons why bamboo charcoal is called ‘Black Diamond’ is because of its value as a medicinal treatment.
Notice the porous nature of activated carbon that gives it such a big surface area
Bamboo charcoal can be made into activated carbon which has double the surface area of normal bamboo charcoal. It is the activated carbon in bamboo charcoal soap that makes it such a powerful cleaning agent. The activated carbon draws the dirt from the very bottom of the pores of the skin, cleaning the skin much more effectively than normal soap.
Also bamboo charcoal soap only remains on the surface of the skin – it doesn’t soak into the skin like traditional soap. As result, bamboo charcoal soap rinses off the skin easily, leaving the body’s natural oils to moisturize the skin.
Bamboo charcoal soap with activated carbon is the most adsorbent thing you can wash with. It removes the bags from under the eyes, helps treat eczema, helps cracked skin and is great for the treatment of spots and blackheads.
It is thus ‘adsorption’ that is the right word to describe the property of bamboo charcoal and activated bamboo charcoal. Understanding adsorption helps you to better understand the health benefits of bamboo charcoal and bamboo charcoal soap.
