A medium question - charcoal

[vmax3000]

What is activated charcoal, exactly? Is it wood ash that's been "cleaned" of the ashy part? It's been cold and I have been burning wood in the fire place. It's a nifty fire place as it has a little natural gas starter. So I am shovelling the ash out and I start to wonder...this tends to be dangerous....could this stuff be rinsed and filtered and used to absorb organics in say a terrarium or as a potting medium. I have used the aquarium style charcoal for the terrarium and this chunky stuff I buy from rePotme or some other nursery supply for pots. I know that barbecue charcoal is NOT the same...contains "boy scout juice" which is deadly to plants. Just a curiosity on my part. Thanks.

[johnblagg]

It has actually been heated to a temperature that drives out all mosture and impuritie and opens pores up in it to increase it ability to adsorb chemicals and toxins ect....

wood ash is not the same as activated charcoal ....the activated kind may even be heated in a vacume condition to remove the by products.Not real sure on that but definatly not the same

[vmax3000]

thanks, John!