Activated Carbon in Water Purification

Activated carbon may be an essential part
of almost any water purification system.
Photo Courtesy of Elga Lab Water

Activated carbon is utilized as a processing or purification step in many water purification systems. It's effectiveness in removing a range of organic compounds from raw water supplies is well known.

Carbon, of course, is a very common earthly element. Activated carbon, also called activated charcoal, often uses charcoal as processing feedstock. Special processing produces a very porous material with a very large effective surface area. The expanded surface area increases the carbon's capacity for adsorption, the collecting of molecules, atoms, or ions on the surface layer of the activated carbon. Activated carbon excels at adsorbing a variety of organic compounds often found in raw or municipal water supplies.

Laboratory applications using purified water will generally include at least one step that targets the removal of organic impurities. Depending on the targeted final water quality, the size of the system, and several other factors, activated carbon may play an important role.

There are numerous water purification technologies in use throughout industrial, commercial, residential, and laboratory settings. Determining the best combination and implementation of these technologies to produce the desired water quality with high reliability and reasonable cost is the job of equipment application specialists. Share your water quality and usage requirements with them for effective solutions.