How do activated carbon filters work?

How do activated carbon filters work?

Activated carbon filters, sometimes referred to as charcoal filters, contain small pieces of carbon in granular or lumpy form that have been treated to be very porous. The surface area of just 4 grams of activated carbon is equivalent to a soccer field (6,400 square meters). It is this enormous surface area that allows activated carbon filters to adsorb (and essentially remove) pollutants and other substances very effectively.

As water flows through the activated carbon filter, chemicals adhere to the carbon, resulting in a purer water output. The effectiveness depends on the flow rate and temperature of the water. Therefore, most smaller activated carbon filters should be used with low pressure and cold water.

In addition to surface area, activated carbon filters may have varying capacities in terms of the size of contaminants removed. One factor is the quality of activated carbon with coconut shells proven to have the best efficiency. Activated carbon can also be made from wood or coal and sold as granular activated carbon or carbon briquettes.

Another factor is the size of the particles that the filter allows to pass through, as this provides a second line of defense. Granular activated carbon (GAC) is not specifically limited because the material is porous. Activated carbon in the form of carbon blocks, on the other hand, typically has a pore size of 0.5 to 10 microns. The problem with the minimum size is that the water flow eventually decreases, as even water particles have difficulty passing through. Thus, typical carbon blocks are between 1 and 5 microns.

 

What is removed and reduced by activated carbon filters?

Activated carbon is effective in reducing hundreds of substances, including contaminants and other chemicals in tap water. However, the most cited studies by EPA and NSF claim effective removal of 60-80 chemicals, effective reduction of another 30, and modest reduction of 22.

The range of effective removal is important and depends on the quality and form of activated carbon used (GAC vs. carbon briquettes). Ensure that the filter selected removes contaminants from the local tap water.

According to the EPA (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency), activated carbon is the only filter technology recommended for removal 

❤ All 32 identified organic contaminants, including THM (chlorine by-product) 

❤ all 14 listed pesticides (including nitrates as well as pesticides such as glyphosate, also known as synthetics)

❤ 12 of the most common herbicides. 

 

Coconut Shell Activated Carbon for Industrial Waste Water Treatment

评论

发表评论

此博客中的热门博文

What is Activated Carbon

图片
Activated carbon is one of the most common adsorption media   used on filters to control indoor air quality and reduce pollutants. The popularity of activated carbon is due to its inherent ability to adsorb most organic chemicals due to the large surface area created by the increased activation on the carbon/charcoal surface. When it comes to the capture and control of gaseous compounds present in the indoor air space, activated carbon will quickly and effectively trap these contaminants on this activated filter media. In some cases, the charcoal/carbon material will be treated with additional chemicals during the activation of this material, which will be done through the use of a chemical called potassium permanganate. Potassium permanganate is used in activated carbon filter media to help attract reactions between the carbon media and the oxidation of polar or low molecular weight compounds. In addition, many manufacturers use this chemical additive on carbon filters to help extend
阅读全文

Waste Carbon Recovery for Environmental Sustainability

图片
Used granular (GAC) or extruded (EAC) activated carbon can be recycled through thermal activation, which involves treating the used carbon in a high temperature activation oven at 850°C or above. Recovery by thermal regeneration is only one of the steps in the complete service package. The recovery process consists of two main processes: 1) reactivation process and 2) tail gas treatment and energy recovery process.     The reactivation process itself can be subdivided into four steps. 1) Drying of used carbon The used carbon is fed into the furnace and heated from ambient temperature to 105 - 110°C. Water and some low boiling compounds are evaporated and released into the furnace atmosphere. As long as there is water in the pores,  the temperature of the carbon  remains between 105 and 110°C. 2) Desorption of low boiling point organics. As the carbon dries, the temperature increases further to about 450°C. During this temperature increase, various organic compounds are desorbed from th
阅读全文

Welcome to Zhengzhou Yihang Water Purification Materials Co., Ltd

图片
Zhengzhou Yihang Water Purification Materials Co., Ltd.  was established in 2014 and is located in Zhengzhou, Henan Province, enjoying convenient transportation and beautiful environment. Our factories covers an area of 400 square meters and has 100 employees. As a activated carbon manufacturer , we are specialized in activated carbon  for nearly 20 years . Our company has rich experience in the water and waste gas purification industry. Our main products include  pellet activated carbon , granular activated carbon , powdered activated carbon , honeycomb activated carbon , mainly used for water purification, air purification, gold smelting, food and drug industry, etc. We are making great efforts to develop new products to meet different requirements. Our company has Electronic balance scale, Compressive strength tester, One smart muffle furnace, Automatic calorimeter equipment to strictly control the product quality. Adhering to the business principle of mutual benefits, we have had a
阅读全文