Carbon Filtering is a method of filtering that uses a piece of activated carbon to remove contaminants and impurities, utilizing chemical adsorption. Each piece of carbon is designed to provide a large section of surface area, in order to allow contaminants the most possible exposure to the filter media.
One pound (450 g) of activated carbon contains a surface area of approximately 100 acres (40 Hectares). This carbon is generally activated with a positive charge and is designed to attract negatively charged water contaminants.
Carbon filtering is commonly used for water purification, but is also used in air purifiers. Carbon filters are most effective at removing chlorine, sediment, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from water.
They are not effective at removing minerals, salts, and dissolved inorganic compounds. It should be known that typical particle sizes that can be removed by carbon filters range from 0.5 to 50 micrometres.
The particle size will be used as part of the filter description. The efficacy of a carbon filter is also based upon the flow rate regulation. When the water is allowed to flow through the filter at a slower rate, the contaminants are exposed to the filter media for a longer amount of time.
Read Also : Industrial Waste-water Treatment Trickle Filters
Types of carbon filters
Carbon filtering is usually used in water filtration systems. In this illustration, the activated carbon is in the fourth level (counted from bottom).
There are two predominant types of carbon filters used in the filtration industry: powdered block filters and granular activated filters. In general, carbon block filters are more effective at removing a larger number of contaminants, based upon the increased surface area of carbon. Many carbon filters also use secondary media, such as silver or KDF-55, to prevent bacteria growth within the filter.
Read Also: Overview of Current Global Pollution Concerns