Know All About Carbon Filters And Its Role In Purifying Water

Have you heard that a carbon filter purifies water extensively?

Want to understand how?

We have the correct answer for you. Well, no one can deny the versatility of carbon in providing thousands of benefits to the users.

It starts from gold mining and can stretch up to water purification. However, the most effective use these days of these carbon filters is toxic water treatment, whether coming from the industry or water pipes for drinking. 

Many people wonder how these small statues can combat all the allergens and toxic pollutants present in the filter. But don’t let it fool you. These filters are clever enough to not only remove the pollutants but also absorb unpleasant odour and taste. Now, let us know about these carbon filters in-depth to understand it’s working.

1. What is a carbon filter?

Charcoal filters or activated carbon filters are granulated or powdered forms of carbon block treated to be porous. As a result, it has a vast surface area to absorb the pollutants. Plus, when the water pours down the filter, it absorbs other harmful substances as well. In fact, it is so hollow that only one gram of activated filter is enough to cover a surface area of 500 meters/square or higher. 

Adsorption is a process that the carbon filter carries where the organic compound from water and air chemically reacts with carbon and sticks to the filter. This means the more porous your carbon filter will be, the more satisfaction it will provide infiltration. Thus, you can use it to remove hazardous compounds, too, if your water purification system contains any. 

2. Reasons why you should install a carbon filter for your water purifier

A carbon filter is an essential part of your water purification system. It removes a great variety of pesticides, chlorine and other VOCs usually present in the water. In addition, it is very effective in removing the foul odour from water and improving its taste. Apart from this, it is essential to install it in your purification system because of its use in pre-RO and post-RO stages:

• Pre-RO carbon filter: This filter separates all the impurities as much as it can to make the water safe for you. It is effortless for carbon to filter out these impurities because of the higher surface area it contains. It enables the filter to attract all the dissolved substances that are harmful to the body.
  
  In addition, the pre-RO carbon filter also upgrades the life of the purifier’s RO membrane. It does this by protecting the membrane from the damage of chlorine. Chlorine is highly toxic in damaging the membrane by opening the pores of the RO system. This protection from chlorine also means consumers have to incur less amount in maintenance.
  
  However, a carbon filter is not enough as even though the carbon filters multiple impurities, TDS still manages to escape. For this, the water purifier always contains other purification stages like RO and UV. 

• Post-RO carbon filter: After the water passes by the system of RO and UV in the purifier, it then comes into contact with the post-RO carbon filter. This is generally the last stage of purification in your water system.
  
  As a result, it enhances the water quality you drink and makes sure your health remains safe. In other words, this filter is like a polisher that further removes any harmful contents that may have been left in the water.
  
  The activated carbon is mainly made from peat, coconut shells, lignite coal, hard & softwood, and olive pit. When materials are converted into activated carbon, it possesses the quality of purifying a wide array of pollutants. Thus, you must install it in every water purifier. 

3. How does it work?

If you ignore the importance of carbon filters and start drinking from tap water, you will know the adverse effect it can produce on your health immediately. Thus, experts highly recommend installing activated carbon in the filter. 

In fact, according to a recent study, it was found that sixty to eighty chemicals can be sucked out with the reduction of twenty to thirty chemicals.

But how effectively a carbon filter works in your purifier mainly depends on the quality and form of carbon you use. As per the reports shared by EPA, a carbon filter can remove around 32 recognized pollutants like THMs. It contains mainly herbicides (12) and pesticides (14) like glyphosate. 

4. What does a carbon filter remove?

Now all the question sweeps down to one. What chemicals can we expect the carbon filters to remove? Well, it has been mentioned in detail below:

• Pesticides: The pesticides often used in agriculture end up in freshwater sources like ponds and rivers. So, when these are sourced through tap water, it can result in making us sick. Thus, activated carbon is needed to absorb it.
• Chlorine: Chlorine is a chemical added to the water to keep it safe. However, it is capable of changing water’s taste and smell. This is why carbon is used to remove it. 
• Nitrate: Nitrate plays a vital role in human and plant life, but when the amount exceeds, it can result in severe health issues. Activated carbon can quickly reduce nitrate up to 50 to 70 per cent for safe drinking.
• Chlorine bi-products: These are the deadliest chemicals present in the water that are capable of causing cancer. Here activated carbon comes to the rescue by removing chlorine bi-product as many as 32 by-products. 
• Chloride: Chloride has many health benefits like controlling BP, pH, blood vacuum etc. But it also makes the water salty. Activated carbon plays an important role in eliminating salt and reducing chlorine up to 70%.
• Herbicides: These are commonly called weedkillers. It is used in removing unwanted plants like weeds. These plants are capable of reducing the space for water thus must be filtered out using activated carbon.

Conclusion

Now when you know how a carbon filter works effectively in removing all the unwanted contaminants from the water, it is time for you to look for a purifier that contains it. However, remember, your purifier should include not only an activated carbon filter but also RO and UV for further safety.