Explore the advantages and disadvantages of activated carbon filtration

Activated carbon filters are commonly used in air purification systems and water filters, due to their ability to target contaminants affecting unpleasant tastes, odors, allergens, and pollutants. 

Despite their small, relatively unimpressive appearance, activated carbon filters are some of the most effective filters on the market for contaminant removal. This short guide will look at activated carbon filters in more detail, including what they are, how they work, their benefits, and more.

An activated carbon filter is a piece of extremely porous solid carbon, usually in powdered block or granular form. Activated carbon filters have a very large surface area - a single gram of this material has an average surface area of 500 meters squared. This allows an activated carbon filter to adsorb (trap) many more contaminants than standard carbon filters.

Adsorption occurs when organic compounds in water or air (depending on the filter’s use) undergo a chemical reaction with the carbon media, and bind to the surface of the media. The higher the activated carbon’s porosity, the more impurities it can hold. 

The activated carbon filtration process is simple. The filter is placed inside an air purifier or water filter, and when contaminated air or water passes through the filter, the harmful contaminants are adsorbed in the media. 

The result is that the water or air flowing out of the system is much cleaner because it has been stripped of the contaminants affecting taste or odor, like chlorine and gaseous pollutants. If used in combination with other filter stages, activated carbon can protect these other filters from damage from large particles like dust. 

From water, activated carbon filters can remove: 

In air, activated carbon filters target: 

The design of the activated carbon filter determines which contaminants the filter can remove, and its effectiveness in removing these contaminants. 

The two most common uses of activated carbon filters are: 

Large-scale uses of activated carbon filters include sewage treatment, metal finishing, analytical chemistry, pharmaceutical processes, purification of distilled beverages, and groundwater remediation. 

Some of the biggest benefits of activated carbon filtration are: 

Some of the setbacks of activated carbon filtration are: 

While all activated carbon filters can remove more impurities than standard carbon filters, not all activated carbon filters are designed to be exactly the same.

Different activated carbon filters contain different amounts of activated carbon, and have different surface areas. The more activated carbon a filter contains, and the greater its surface area, the more contaminants it can remove, and the longer its lifespan. 

The size of the filter pores affects the rate of adsorption. The smaller the pores, the faster the adsorption process. Some activated carbon filters are now infused with other materials, like magnesium dioxide or copper oxide, to enhance the filtration process. 

Activated carbon filters are some of the most effective tools for filtering air and water. Although activated carbon isn’t a purification technique, it’s superior to other filters in removing impurities affecting taste and odor. Activated carbon has a number of uses, but AC filters are most commonly used in water filters and air purifiers.

Brian Campbell is the founder of WaterFilterGuru.com, where he blogs about all things water quality. His passion for helping people get access to clean, safe water flows through the expert industry coverage he provides. Follow him on twitter @WF_Guru or contact him by email [email protected] .

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