Charcoal for odors (possibly dumb question)

[Mathius]

OK, so I've read before that if you have an odor somewhere, for example in your car you can use a razor blade and put an x in a bag of charcoal and leave it sitting in the car for a while and it will get rid of the odor. I have since done a google search and confirmed that charcoal is very good at neutralizing odor, which makes sense since they often use charcoal filters in fish tanks and evap containers on cars.

Here's where the possibly dumb question comes in.. Does anyone know if you can still cook with said charcoal?

'Cuz I'm thinking if the fumes are absorbed into the charcoal briquettes, then perhaps burning them is not so healthy for the food at that point. Then again by the time the charcoal gets hot enough to cook on, maybe that stuff has burned off.

Mathius

[Happyfunballs]

Can't answer your question directly, but I can tell you that 5 Kingsford briquettes won't neutralize the overwhelming stench of a diaper receptacle....and I certainly wouldn't want to cook with them after that. Carry on.

[MonzaRacer]

Actually activated charcoal works good but briquettes are most times are dipped in different forms of wax and chemical laden wax or paraffin products to help them light even with lighter fluid, just watched how its made and was impressed.
And also love that ford was the guy who had an inventor develop the stuff for his camping/hunting trips!

[Mathius]

Actually activated charcoal works good but briquettes are most times are dipped in different forms of wax and chemical laden wax or paraffin products to help them light even with lighter fluid, just watched how its made and was impressed.
And also love that ford was the guy who had an inventor develop the stuff for his camping/hunting trips!

I'm not sure I really understand what you're saying. Are you saying that the additives they put on charcoal now mean it won't get rid of odor as effectively as they say it will?

Mathius

[MrQuick]

I think what Lee is saying the cooking briquettes are enhanced with harmless chemicals to promote a determined burn time. I would not cook with charcoal that has been used to filter engine fumes. The chemical released can be very harmful. But for oder removal? if not moldy, should be ok....

Mathius, are you concerned about disposal?

Vince

[LateNight72]

I'm not sure I really understand what you're saying. Are you saying that the additives they put on charcoal now mean it won't get rid of odor as effectively as they say it will?

Mathius
Correct.

Filters in Aquariums and Air Filters, use Activated Carbon (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Activated_carbon). Charcoal Briquettes (Kingsford, etc.) aren't pure Carbon. They're burned wood that's been compacted and soaked with chemicals to make it burn and burn evenly.

To answer your question though, it really depends what you used the briquettes to absorb. Gas fumes or chemical fumes? I'd pitch it. Just some musty smell, it'd probably be fine to use, but it'll probably be much tougher to get to light and burn properly due to the humidity its absorbed.

[jocko124]

I would imagine that at the temps charcoal burns at any Volatile Organic Compound would be completely burned off by the time it ashed over. Having said that, as cheap as charcoal is, why bother?

[Mathius]

I think what Lee is saying the cooking briquettes are enhanced with harmless chemicals to promote a determined burn time. I would not cook with charcoal that has been used to filter engine fumes. The chemical released can be very harmful. But for oder removal? if not moldy, should be ok....

Mathius, are you concerned about disposal?

Vince

Actually, a buddy of mine has a trashed interior on his old car with heavy mold issues. Obviously everything will have to be stripped and thrown away, but I thought the charcoal would help.

Mostly the question was more or less just not wanting to waste the charcoal if I don't have to, but if there's any question at all about it effecting the food, then that's out.

Mathius

[CarlC]

Most of the time it is not used in briquette-sized form. Reducing it down to a smaller particle will allow for more surface area and better use of the full volume.

[MrQuick]

Actually, a buddy of mine has a trashed interior on his old car with heavy mold issues. Obviously everything will have to be stripped and thrown away, but I thought the charcoal would help.

Mostly the question was more or less just not wanting to waste the charcoal if I don't have to, but if there's any question at all about it effecting the food, then that's out.

Mathius
nawww he's fubar. everything needs to come out and scrub that metal good. not worth getting sick over.


vince