Activated carbon filters are a great way to remove many contaminants from water, including chemicals, gases, and physical impurities. According to NSF International and the Environmental Protection Agency (USA), these filters can remove up to 80 chemicals from water and reduce 30 more. Companies sell activated carbon filters (also called “carbon filters”) to remove chemicals such as formaldehyde and benzene, but do they really work? The Smart Air laboratory tested real-world carbon filters and the results showed that activated carbon filters effectively removed VOC gases compared to a fan alone. A granular activated carbon (GAC) filter is a proven option for removing certain chemicals, particularly organic ones, from water.
GAC filters can also be used to remove chemicals that produce unpleasant odors or flavors in water, such as hydrogen sulfide (the smell of rotten eggs) or chlorine. Used together, activated carbon and HEPA filters can trap 99.97% of small particles of 0.3 microns or larger, as well as most larger particles, especially spores. This creates many more places for molecules to be trapped and makes carbon much more effective as a filter medium. If you're a smoker or live with a smoker, using an activated carbon filter in your home air purification system can provide unparalleled benefits to your respiratory health.
Most activated carbon is also treated with a chemical that improves its ability to filter specific contaminants. Some filters contain more activated carbon than others, and this can affect the ability to remove impurities. If you use an air purification system or are buying one, you may be familiar with activated carbon filters. In addition, carbon or activated carbon filters are among the levels of whole-house filters, reverse osmosis (RO), UV filters, and many other filtration technologies. An activated carbon air filter may be a good option in the short term, but in the long run, the Molekule might be a better solution for your needs. Carbon air filters can be an important part of your home's air purification system, but they must be used properly.
After considering how carbon air filters work and when they are effective, you can decide what type of air purifier is right for your situation and budget. Carbon air filters trap gas molecules in a carbon bed, a process that has a surprisingly colorful history. You should buy one with a large amount of carbon in the filter, constantly monitor the saturation of the filter, and replace it when necessary. In conclusion, activated carbon filters are an effective way to remove many contaminants from water and air. They are also great for removing odors and flavors from water. When used properly with other filtration technologies such as HEPA filters, they can provide unparalleled benefits to your respiratory health.
However, it is important to remember that some filters contain more activated carbon than others and this can affect their ability to remove impurities.
