How to Reuse Activated Charcoal

Activated charcoal differs in its use from that used to cook food in a barbecue pit. The porous nature of activated charcoal enables it to absorb odors from the air. You can recycle your used activated charcoal, also called activated carbon, by baking out the odors and reactivating it. Reuse your charcoal just two or three times, as completely cleaning the pores of the activated carbon proves difficult with home appliances. Look for activated charcoal in the aquarium-supplies area of pet stores or in garden centers.