Activated Carbon

Granular Activated Carbon constitutes an excellent filtration media, having a high density with a balanced pore-structure for more efficient absorption. One of the most common applications for Activated Carbon is the removal of the undesirable taste present in many chlorinated water supplies. This taste is the result of the formation of chlorophenols, often present in raw waters which contained phenols and were subsequently treated with chlorine. These phenols are usually the product of industrial wastes. Even 0.1 ppm of chlorophenols can result in an undesirable taste. Ac ti vat ed Carbon has for many years been successful in the absorption of orthochlorophenol and the removal of free chlorine from water supplies. The end product is clean, fresh water with no objectionable tastes. Activated Carbon requires only periodic backwashing to eliminate accumulated suspended matter and to re-grade the filter bed. Activated Carbon has an extremely high capacity but must be

replaced when the filter bed loses the capacity for removal of taste and odor. To obtain maximum efficiency of the activated carbon in the absorption process, it is best to have the greatest possible surface area in the smallest practical volume. This is because the rate of absorption is proportional to the amount of surface area of the absorbing medium media. Activated Carbon has a surface area of 800 sq. meters per gram. This results in high efficiency and system economy. When considering Activated Carbon for taste, odor and color removal applications, it is necessary that the influent be relatively free of iron for maximum service life. It is also necessary that the influent be free from oil and other suspended matter, as these constituents may reduce the overall efficiency of the activated carbon.