Making Lye
http://journeytoforever.org/biodiesel_ashlye.html
http://www.endtimesreport.com/making_lye.html

Learned this when learning to make soap.



No in a survival situation it is probably to late to get activated charcoal. And much to hard to make on your own. Aquarium charcoal is activated charcoal and is used to remove contamination from the tank water. You can also buy it at most drug stores. It is often given to people that have swallowed poison to absorb the poison.

You can make your own charcoal it just won't be activated. It still can be used the same way it just isn't as good because it has less surface area to be effective. If using homemade charcoal for either purpose it is best to gring it as fine as possable. Hard woods tend to make the best quality charcoal. Although the majority of activated charcoal commercially produced comes fom coconut shells.

Activated Charcoal

http://www.charcoal.uk.com/Activated_carbon.htm
http://www.ams.usda.gov/nop/NationalList/TAPReviews/ActivatedCarbon.pdf

Homemsde water filters

http://www.covenantacres.com/HomemadeWaterFilter.html
http://eesc.orst.edu/AgComWebFile/EdMat/EM8642.pdf