Carbon filtering

Short description: Filtering method

File:Circular HEPA air filter & activated carbon filter (1).jpgAir purifier HEPA filter with an activated carbon section in the middle

Carbon filtering is a method of filtering that uses a bed of activated carbon to remove impurities from a fluid using adsorption.

## Contents

* 1 Mechanism
* 2 Common uses
* 3 Specifications
* 4 See also
* 5 References
* 6 Further reading

## Mechanism

Carbon filtering operates through adsorption, where pollutants in the fluid to be treated are trapped within the pore structure[1] of a carbon substrate. The substrate consists of many carbon granules, each of which is highly porous. Consequently, the substrate possesses a large surface area that can trap contaminants. Activated carbon is typically used in filters because it has been treated to have a significantly higher surface area than untreated carbon. One gram of activated carbon has a surface area exceeding 3,000 m² (32,000 sq ft).[2][3][4]

## Common uses

Carbon filtering is commonly used for water purification, air filtering and industrial gas processing, for example the removal of siloxanes and hydrogen sulfide from biogas. It is also used in a number of other applications, including respirator masks, the purification of sugarcane, some methods of coffee decaffeination, and in the recovery of precious metals, especially gold. It is also used in cigarette filters and in the EVAP used in cars.[5]

When filtering water, charcoal carbon filters are most effective at removing chlorine, particles such as sediment, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), taste and odor. They are not effective at removing minerals, salts, and dissolved inorganic substances.[6]

Filters containing an adsorbent or catalyst such as charcoal (carbon) may also remove odors and gaseous pollutants such as volatile organic compounds or ozone.[7]

## Specifications

Each carbon filter is typically given a micron rating that specifies the size of particle which the filter can remove from a fluid. Typical particle sizes which can be removed by carbon filters range from 0.5 to 50 μm. The efficacy of a carbon filter depends not only on its particle size, but also on the rate of flow of fluid through the filter. For example, if a fluid is allowed to flow through the filter at a slower rate, the contaminants will be exposed to the filter media for a longer amount of time, which will tend to result in fewer impurities.[8]

## See also

* Water filter
* List of waste-water treatment technologies

## References

1. ↑ "Activated Carbon | adsorbent | applications" (in en-US). DEC (Dynamic Environmental Corporation). https://www.dec.group/processes/DEC.AAS/DEC-ACA-activated-carbon_en.html.
2. ↑ Chada, Nagaraju; Romanos, Jimmy; Hilton, Ramsey; Suppes, Galen; Burress, Jacob; Pfeifer, Peter (2012). "Activated carbon monoliths for methane storage". APS March Meeting 2012. 57. pp. W33.012. Bibcode: 2012APS..MARW33012C. http://meetings.aps.org/link/BAPS.2012.MAR.W33.12.
3. ↑ Soo, Yuchoong; Chada, Nagaraju; Beckner, Matthew; Romanos, Jimmy; Burress, Jacob; Pfeifer, Peter (March 2013). "Adsorbed Methane Film Properties in Nanoporous Carbon Monoliths". APS March Meeting 2013. 58. pp. M38.001. Bibcode: 2013APS..MARM38001S. http://meetings.aps.org/link/BAPS.2013.MAR.M38.1.
4. ↑ Dillon, Edward C; Wilton, John H; Barlow, Jared C; Watson, William A (May 1989). "Large surface area activated charcoal and the inhibition of aspirin absorption". Annals of Emergency Medicine 18 (5): 547–552. doi:10.1016/s0196-0644(89)80841-8. PMID 2719366.
5. ↑ Goel, Reema; Bitzer, Zachary T.; Reilly, Samantha M.; Bhangu, Gurkirat; Trushin, Neil; Elias, Ryan J.; Foulds, Jonathan; Muscat, Joshua et al. (20 August 2018). "Effect of Charcoal in Cigarette Filters on Free Radicals in Mainstream Smoke". Chemical Research in Toxicology 31 (8): 745–751. doi:10.1021/acs.chemrestox.8b00092. PMID 29979036.
6. ↑ "Water Treatment Using Carbon Filters: GAC Filter Information - MN Dept. of Health". https://www.health.state.mn.us/communities/environment/hazardous/topics/gac.html.
7. ↑ "California Environmental Protection Agency - Air Cleaning Devices for the Home, Frequently Asked Questions". California Environmental Protection Agency Air Resources Board. https://www.arb.ca.gov/research/indoor/acdsumm.pdf.
8. ↑ "Filtration: Sediment Activated Carbon and Mixed Media" (in en). 2022-02-14. https://www.ag.ndsu.edu:8000/agriculture/extension/publications/filtration-sediment-activated-carbon-and-mixed-media.

## Further reading

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* U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Washington, D.C. (2013). "Granular Activated Carbon." Drinking Water Treatability Database.
* "A Citizen's Guide to Activated Carbon Treatment. Document no. EPA 542-F-01-020". EPA. 2001. Archived from the original on 2010-04-02. https://web.archive.org/web/20100402022110/http://www.epa.gov/superfund/community/pdfs/suppmaterials/treatmenttech/activated_carbon.pdf.
* "Residential Air Cleaners: A Summary of Available Information. 2nd edition. Document no. EPA 402-F-09-002". EPA. Archived from the original on 2013-02-01. https://web.archive.org/web/20130201093821/http://www.epa.gov/iaq/pdfs/residential_air_cleaners.pdf.

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Wastewater

Sources|

* Acid mine drainage
* Ballast water
* Bathroom
* Blackwater (coal)
* Blackwater (waste)
* Boiler blowdown
* Brine
* Combined sewer
* Cooling tower
* Cooling water
* Fecal sludge
* Greywater
* Infiltration/Inflow
* Industrial effluent
* Ion exchange
* Leachate
* Manure
* Papermaking
* Produced water
* Return flow
* Reverse osmosis
* Sanitary sewer
* Septage
* Sewage
* Sewage sludge
* Toilet
* Urban runoff

Quality indicators|

* Adsorbable organic halides
* Biochemical oxygen demand
* Chemical oxygen demand
* Coliform index
* Oxygen saturation
* Heavy metals
* pH
* Salinity
* Temperature
* Total dissolved solids
* Total suspended solids
* Turbidity

Treatment options|

* Activated sludge
* Aerated lagoon
* Agricultural wastewater treatment
* API oil–water separator
* Carbon filtering
* Chlorination
* Clarifier
* Constructed wetland
* Decentralized wastewater system
* Extended aeration
* Facultative lagoon
* Fecal sludge management
* Filtration
* Imhoff tank
* Industrial wastewater treatment
* Ion exchange
* Membrane bioreactor
* Reverse osmosis
* Rotating biological contactor
* Secondary treatment
* Sedimentation
* Septic tank
* Settling basin
* Sewage sludge treatment
* Sewage treatment
* Sewer mining
* Stabilization pond
* Trickling filter
* Ultraviolet germicidal irradiation
* UASB
* Vermifilter
* Wastewater treatment plant

Disposal options|

* Combined sewer
* Evaporation pond
* Groundwater recharge
* Infiltration basin
* Injection well
* Irrigation
* Marine dumping
* Marine outfall
* Reclaimed water
* Sanitary sewer
* Septic drain field
* Sewage farm
* Storm drain
* Surface runoff
* Vacuum sewer

* Category: Sewerage

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