Activated Carbon for Drinking Water Purification

Everyone needs to consume a large amount of water in daily life. Have you ever thought about it? Is the water you drink every day safe?

The quality of drinking water is closely related to everyone’s health. Therefore, we cannot ignore the quality of drinking water.

This article will discuss the drinking water standards that meet human health, the types of activated carbon suitable for drinking water purification, and the differences in the use of different types of activated carbon in drinking water purification.

What is Healthy Drinking Water?

The WHO has issued relevant documents on the quality of drinking water, explaining indicators such as microorganisms, chemicals, and trace elements in drinking water. These standards are designed to ensure the safety of drinking water for the human body and reduce potential health hazards.

So, how harmful is drinking water pollution to health?

Some research results indicate that consuming unclean drinking water may cause organ damage or physical pain, and in severe cases, it may induce cancer or tumors. Therefore, activated carbon, as a porous adsorption medium, is the best choice for drinking water purification.

Activated Carbon For Drinking Water Treatment

According to EPA, Activated carbon is a porous adsorption media with a large surface area and numerous pores, giving it strong adsorption capabilities to capture compounds in gases or liquids.

The pore size ranges from 1.5nm to 5um, with micropores smaller than 2nm, macropores larger than 50nm, and mesopores between 2-50nm. It is the developed pore structure that makes activated carbon’s adsorption performance excellent.

Activated carbon has a huge surface area, making it an effective adsorbent to remove pollutants and other substances. Imagine how large the surface area is—just 5 grams of activated carbon can have an equivalent surface area to 70,000 square feet of a football field!

This, along with other amazing properties, makes activated carbon a good medium for adsorbing and removing impurities from water.

In drinking water purification, activated carbon can adsorb various pollutants, including:

• Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS)
• Chlorine
• Chlorides
• Trichloroethylene
• Tetrachloroethylene
• Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
• Pesticides
• Oxalic acid
• Thiols

Now, you may wonder which types of activated carbon are most suitable for drinking water purification. In the following content, you will find the answers.

Let’s explore together!

Types of Activated Carbon for Drinking Water Purification

Different raw materials and manufacturing processes produce final products with different characteristics. Different types of activated carbon also exhibit significant differences in drinking water purification.

In the table below, you can discover the differences between these two types of activated carbon.

Hint:
Different types of activated carbon are suitable for different water treatment systems and objectives.
The performance of activated carbon is influenced by operating conditions, changes in water quality, and the operating environment, so regular monitoring and evaluation of its performance are necessary.

According to the EPA, granular activated carbon has a high removal rate (up to 99.9%) for many VOCs, including trichloroethylene (TCE) and tetrachloroethylene (PCE).

Therefore, granular activated carbon is the best choice for drinking water purification.

Commonly used granular activated carbons for drinking water purification include coconut shell activated carbon and coal-based activated carbon.

Conclusion

After reading the above content, you must have gained a deeper understanding of activated carbon suitable for drinking water purification.

When choosing activated carbon, a series of parameters and performance requirements need to be considered to ensure that activated carbon can effectively remove pollutants from water.

If you intend to purchase activated carbon, feel free to contact us. We will provide you with the most professional service to ensure that your choice meets the best application requirements.

FAQ

Can activated carbon remove heavy metals from drinking water?
Yes.
Activated carbon is commonly used in drinking water treatment to remove heavy metals. Through adsorption, activated carbon can effectively remove a range of heavy metals from water, including but not limited to lead, mercury, cadmium, and chromium. This is because heavy metals are typically present in water in ionic form, and the pore structure and surface of activated carbon have the ability to adsorb these ions.

Is activated carbon safe for drinking water purification?
Yes.
Although activated carbon is considered safe for drinking water purification, it is essential to choose the appropriate type, use it reasonably, and replace it regularly in specific applications. In summary, the correct selection and use of activated carbon are safe and effective methods for drinking water purification.

Does activated carbon affect the taste of drinking water?
Generally speaking, the answer is no.
It is worth noting that if the activated carbon drinking water filter is not replaced for an extended period or is improperly used, it may lead to bacterial growth or microbial growth on the surface of the activated carbon, which could negatively impact the taste of the water. Therefore, using activated carbon correctly and replacing it regularly are essential factors in ensuring water quality and taste.

Can activated carbon improve the taste of water?
Yes.
Activated carbon can reduce or remove various pollutants that may affect the taste, color, or odor of drinking water. For example, activated carbon is used as a drinking water filter to remove chlorine, industrial solvents, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), trihalomethanes (THMs), and organic substances to improve the taste of water.