The activated carbon filter is a piece of modern Science genius that has helped us lead healthier lives. You might have come across this term quite often; by the electrician who arrives to service your cleaning or cooling systems, in scientific journals, in Environment talks, or in simple everyday nit-bits about how polluted our environment is getting. It is safe to say that with the help of Carbon filters, we have revolutionized how we breathe or consume clean drinking water. But, what is the Carbon filter, and how has it transformed our lives? Let us take a look:
Contents
What Is Activated Carbon Filter?
Activated Carbons are powdered pieces or granular carbon that function to be porous. It is the porosity of the Carbon filters that leads to their efficiency. The more porous a Carbon filter is more efficient its filtering properties. It is the efficiency of the Activated Carbon filter that contributes to the removal of odour or offers ‘taste’ to the purified water from the RO. It has been estimated that about 1 gram of Activated Carbon is equal to 100 acres in the area! So imagine the efficiency of a tiny piece of Activated Carbon in ensuring the degree of filtering it can bring about.
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The Working Of Activated Carbon Filter
So, how does an activated Carbon filter works? Well, the basic principle of ‘Adsorption’ is applied in working the Activated Carbon filter. Adsorption is the chemical process that involves the chemical reaction between the VOC or the Volatile Organic Compound and the surface of the activated carbon filter. This causes the microscopic particles to ‘stick on’ to the filter’s surface, leading to subsequent cleansing.
However, the reaction of the Activated Carbon with Oxygen present in the atmosphere ‘activates’ the pores present in the filter. Thus, opening up each pore and initiating the process of filtration. This leads to the decontamination of the surrounding air, a common process that occurs in purifying devices. The activated carbon filter, combined with the HEPA filters, leads to high filtration efficiency, as expected from a good quality device.
The air purification system is effective in eliminating or trapping the following particles from the air:
- Lint
- Dust
- Per Hair
- Smoke
- Regular Chemicals used in the household
- Benzene and VOC
- Molds
It has been estimated that the Activated Carbon, in combination with the HEPA filter, can eliminate around 99.97% of particles of size 0.3 microns. Larger particles, like the pores, can also be trapped in this filter.
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What Is The Usage Of Activated Carbon Filter?:
Let us take a look at some of the important applications of the Activated Carbon filters:
The Sewage Treatment Plant
Industrial or sewage waste comprises various organic compounds, chemicals, and impurities, that need effective elimination. It is in these sewage treatment plants that the Activated Carbon Filter fine widespread application. The porous surface of the filter removes the inorganic and synthetic organic chemicals too. With the use of the thermal and chemical activation process, the absorption properties of the activated carbon filter are enhanced.
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The Air Purification System
Activated Carbon filters are widely used in gas and air purification systems. This is where the smoke, odour, and various pollutants of volatile nature are also effectively trapped. Hence, a bed of Charcoal successfully removes such pollutants from circulation. Also, the porous surface of the filter is useful in trapping harmful gasses. Other gases like oil vapours, hydrocarbons, and harmful components are also eliminated through the activated carbon filter present in the Air purification system.
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The Industrial Applications
Not so surprisingly, the Activated Carbon filters are also widely used in metal fishing, analytical chemistry, and groundwater remediation. These filter types are also used in the purification of organic molecules and Chemicals by eliminating turbidity. It is the higher surface area of the Activated Carbon filter that works as a carrier for various metals and also are catalytic in the application. Besides the large surface area, the Activated carbon also has high inertness and versatility, making it highly applicable in industrial processes.
Treatment of Drinking Water
Various applications like coagulation, sedimentation, and filtration are used in combination to successfully treat the water source and make it suitable for the drinking process. It is the physical properties of the absorption that causes the impurities to ‘cling’ onto the surface of the filter. Also, the Activated carbon filters are found to be more effective in treating Municipal water than the Sand filters. Hence, pollutants like heavy metals, Chlorine, byproducts, and other microorganisms are effectively eliminated from the water body.
Beverage Purification
Did you know that the manufacture of beverages like Whisky and Vodka requires the application of an Activated Carbon filter? Yes, these are used to distil out or filter out the organic components from the beverages. Not just this, but the filters also help enhance the beverages’ taste, odour, and colour. Going a step further, the Activated Carbon filters are also used to manufacture juices and fruit-based beverages for enhanced texture and to initiate the process of fermentation.
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Activated Carbon Filter: The Conclusion
So, there is a lot more to the term Activated Carbon Filter. This little boon of Scientific application has gone a long way in enhancing our quality of life. The widespread application and the effective results of the Activated Carbon Filter make it an everyday essential in Urban life. However, you need to bear in mind that not all Carbon filters are the same. The difference lies in the ‘amount’ of activated carbon contained in a filter compared to the other. Hence, the overall capacity of the filter is changed.
Finally, it is important to bear in mind that higher levels of carbon in the filter go a long way in enhancing its overall lifespan.