At what temperature can activated carbon in an odour adsorber be reactivated to drive out adsorbed gases?

Activated carbon is commonly used in odour adsorbers due to its porous structure which allows it to effectively capture and retain various gases and odours. To restore the effectiveness of activated carbon after it has been saturated with adsorbed substances, a process called reactivation is employed.

During reactivation, the carbon is heated to high temperatures, which helps to drive off the adsorbed gases. The process typically occurs at temperatures ranging from approximately 500°C to 600°C. Specifically, a temperature around 538°C is widely accepted as effective for reactivating activated carbon. At this temperature, a significant amount of the adsorbed materials can be successfully removed, allowing the carbon to regain its adsorption capacity.

Consequently, a temperature of 538°C is ideal for reactivating activated carbon in odour adsorbers, making this the correct answer. The other temperatures, while they may be within a reasonable range for some processes, do not generally match the optimal conditions recognized for effective reactivation in practice.