Activated carbon (also called activated charcoal) is an adsorbent, a substance that adsorbs another substance such as impurities in drinking water. It is processed to have small pores that increase the surface area available for adsorption or chemical reactions. It is often used to purify, dechlorinate, deodorize, and decolorize liquids and vapors. Some of its many applications include:

Energy Storage - lithium-ion batteries, supercapacitors, and photoelectric cells

Fuel Storage - natural gas and hydrogen storage

Industrial Products - electroplating, air, and water filtration, and industrial gas cleaning and automotive applications

Environmental - removes toxic pollutants from the air, purifies water, and helps in spill cleanups and ground remediation