The Use of Carbon in Water Filtration

March 21, 2023

Before discussing the use of carbon in water filtration it is important to gain an understanding of what carbon is and the importance of carbon in our daily lives.

What is Carbon?

Carbon is a chemical element aka element with the symbol C and atomic number 6. A chemical element is a chemical substance that cannot be broken down into other substances.

A chemical is any substance that has a defined composition. In other words, a chemical is always made up of the same "stuff." Some chemicals occur in nature, such as water, carbon, whereas other chemicals are manufactured, such as chlorine (used for bleaching fabrics or in swimming pools).

Carbon is a highly abundant element, ranking as the 15th most abundant element in the Earth's crust and the fourth most abundant element in the entire universe by mass, trailing only behind hydrogen, helium, and oxygen.

Due to its abundance and remarkable ability to form a wide variety of organic compounds, as well as polymers at typical Earth temperatures, carbon is an essential component of all known life and is found in all living organisms. It is the second most abundant element in the human body by mass, comprising roughly 18.5% of the body's total mass, second only to oxygen.

It is also found in many non-living things, such as coal, oil, and natural gas.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon

The use of Carbon in everyday life

Carbon is an important element in everyday life, and its uses range from the obvious to the less obvious. Its versatility and importance make it an essential element for many industries and applications.

https://www.rsc.org/periodic-table/element/6/carbon

Here are just some examples:

Fuel: Carbon is a major component of fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas. These fuels are burned to generate heat and electricity.
Agriculture: Carbon is a vital component of soil and is necessary for plant growth.
Construction: Carbon is used in the production of concrete, which is one of the most widely used construction materials.
Electronics: Carbon is used in the production of electronic components such as batteries and semiconductors.
Art and design: Carbon is used in the production of art supplies such as charcoal and graphite pencils.
High-performance products: Carbon is used in the production of carbon fibre which is a strong lightweight material used in the manufacture of aeroplanes, automobiles, sports equipment and many other products.
Health and beauty: Activated carbon is used in the beauty care industry to remove impurities from the skin and hair. It is also used in some toothpaste and mouthwash products to help whiten teeth and freshen breath.
Water filtration: Carbon is commonly used in water filtration systems to remove impurities and improve the taste and quality of drinking water.

How is Carbon used in water filtration?

Carbon is commonly used in water filtration to remove impurities and improve the taste and quality of drinking water.

Is Carbons use in water filtration dangerous?

Carbons use in water filtration is completely harmless and only serves to benefit.

Carbon can actually be bought in supplement form and is used for health benefits, to treat digestive issues for example.

What are some common types of carbon filters used for this purpose?

Several types of carbon filters are commonly used in water filtration systems:

Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) Filters: These filters consist of loose carbon granules that are packed into a cartridge. Water flows through the spaces between the granules, and the carbon adsorbs impurities and contaminants. GAC filters are effective at removing chlorine, sediment, and organic compounds

Catalytic Carbon Filters: These filters are like GAC filters, but they are designed to remove chloramines, which are a combination of chlorine and ammonia that are commonly used in municipal water treatment. Catalytic carbon filters use a special type of activated carbon that is treated with a catalyst to break down chloramines into harmless by-products.

Carbon Block Filters: These filters are made by compressing activated carbon into a solid block. Water flows through the small pores in the block, and the carbon adsorbs impurities and contaminants. Carbon block filters are highly effective at removing a wide range of pollutants, including chlorine, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), pesticides, herbicides, and other chemicals.

Carbon filters can be used in a variety of water filtration systems, including under-sink filters, countertop filters, and whole-house filters. As discussed, Carbon filters are effective at removing a wide range of impurities, additionally, carbon filtration can help to improve the taste and odour of drinking water, making it more palatable and enjoyable to drink.

Each type of carbon filter has its strengths and weaknesses, and the right type of filter for your specific needs will depend on the quality of your water and the specific contaminants that you are trying to remove.

Carbon-only water filtration systems

A water filtration system that only uses carbon filters is a type of water treatment technology that relies solely on carbon to remove impurities and contaminants from water.

There are various types of carbon-based water filtration systems available, the most common type of carbon-only water filtration system uses activated carbon.

Activated Carbon block filters, are made by compressing activated carbon into a solid block, and are more effective at removing certain types of contaminants than other types of carbon filters.

Carbon filters work by attracting and bonding with these contaminants as water passes through them, effectively removing them from the water. This type of filtration is often used in home water filtration systems, as well as in large-scale municipal water treatment facilities.

While carbon filters are effective at removing many common water contaminants, they may not be able to remove all types of pollutants. For example, they may not be effective at removing certain minerals, such as calcium and magnesium, which can contribute to hard water.
As a result, an alternative solution may be required, with Carbon still serving an important role.

Carbon's role as a pre-filter in water filtration systems

Activated carbon plays an important role as a pre-filter in water filtration systems, especially in conjunction with Ultraviolet (UV) Filters and Reverse Osmosis (RO) Filters.

In the case of UV Filters, carbon pre-filters are used to remove contaminants such as chlorine and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) before the water is exposed to the UV light.

While UV light is highly effective at killing bacteria and viruses, it is not effective at removing other contaminants that may be present in the water.

Therefore, using a carbon pre-filter before the water reaches the UV lamp can significantly improve the overall effectiveness of the system.

Similarly, in the case of RO Filters, carbon pre-filters are used to remove chlorine and other organic compounds before the water enters the RO membrane.

RO filters use a semipermeable membrane to remove dissolved minerals and other contaminants from water, but they are not effective at removing organic compounds or other contaminants that can potentially damage the membrane.

By using a carbon pre-filter, these contaminants can be removed before they have a chance to damage the RO membrane, which can significantly extend the lifespan of the filter and improve the overall quality of the filtered water.

In conclusion

Carbon is a versatile and essential element and plays an important role in the water filtration industry.

The different types of carbon filters have their own strengths and weaknesses, and the right type of filter for your specific needs will depend on the quality of your water and the specific contaminants that you are trying to remove.

Carbon filters are effective at removing many common water contaminants, they may not be able to remove all types of pollutants and as a result are an important component of many water filtration systems, particularly as a pre-filter in conjunction with UV and RO filters.

By removing contaminants such as chlorine and organic compounds, carbon pre-filters can significantly improve the effectiveness of these systems and help to ensure that the filtered water is safe and clean.