Wat is the difference between different grades of carbon, such as n330, etc.

Here’s a good summary.

Beautiful! Thanks!

This site rocks!

Damn straight!

Actually, here is another question. Are these carbons assumed to be activated, or can there be N330 activated and unactivated?

Here’s my understanding but I won’t swear by it:

N330 and its brethren are forms of carbon black, which is produced by pyrolysis of atomized oil. This forms granules that have a high surface-to-volume ratio, but not as high as that of activated carbon. It’s mostly this extraordinary surface-to-volume ratio that gives activated carbon it’s absorbent properties.

Activated carbon is made by pyrolysis (usually after chemical treatment) of carbon-bearing materials, like wood and coal, that already have a porous structure. This yields a very porous grain that can’t be achieved by the atomization technique used for carbon black.

Carbon black will have some of the same absorbent properties of activated carbon, but to a lesser degree.