Vol. 24 No. 4 (2025): Mapana Journal of Sciences
Research Articles

Usability of Activated Carbon Charcoal in Automotive Textiles for Car Deodorization: An Overview

  • M. Sasikala,
  • K. Sangeetha
M. Sasikala
Department of Textiles and Apparel Design, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India-641 046
K. Sangeetha
Department of Textiles and Apparel Design, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India-641 046

Published 2025-12-01

Keywords

  • Automobile industry,
  • VOC emissions,
  • activated charcoal,
  • deodorization,
  • textile

Copyright (c) 2025

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Abstract

With the swift progress in the automotive sector and the increase in time spent within vehicles, consumer expectations for cars have increasingly focused on enhanced comfort. Among the participants, 95% factored in in-car air quality when selecting a vehicle, with about half of them considering it an important element in their purchasing decisions. Complaints about in-vehicle odors have long been a primary source of consumer dissatisfaction. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) released from interior materials of vehicles play a major role in forming the overall odor profile. Being exposed to VOCs within vehicles can result in both immediate and long-term health issues, including headaches, eye irritation, dizziness, allergic reactions, and respiratory concerns. Additionally, unpleasant odors may lead to both physiological and psychological challenges, such as stress and changes in mood. As such, the concerns surrounding in-car air quality and undesirable odors remain significant. While deodorizing a car is a technical task, using natural materials like activated carbon charcoal makes it relatively straightforward. Activated charcoal is created by heating charcoal in the presence of a gas, resulting in pores that enhance its ability to adsorb chemicals. Given their small size and low-volume pores, activated carbons are more effective at adsorption compared to absorption due to their increased surface area. Activated charcoal is recognized worldwide as a remedy. It possesses various functional characteristics, including a desirable self-air filtering capacity. In addition to its antimicrobial properties, its ability to reduce odors underscores the importance of activated charcoal in both medical and industrial textiles. This paper highlights the characteristics of activated charcoal and its potential uses to eliminate odors from synthetic textile materials in automotive interiors.

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