Activated Carbon Filter Manufacturer: Introduction to the Basic Information of Activated Carbon Filters

In the water quality pretreatment system, the activated carbon filter adsorbs residual chlorine that cannot be removed by the preceding filtration stage, thereby preventing oxidation and degradation of the downstream reverse osmosis membrane. It also adsorbs trace organic compounds and other contaminants that may leak from the upstream stages, exhibiting significant removal efficiency for odors, colloids, pigments, heavy metal ions, and other impurities in the water, while simultaneously reducing COD. Furthermore, it can lower the SDI of the feed water entering the RO system, ensuring compliance with SDI specifications.

What is the product description of the activated carbon filter?

An activated carbon filter pressure vessel is a pressurized container internally packed with activated carbon, and the filtration process is carried out by passing water through the carbon bed. The activated carbon particles that make up the bed possess an extensive network of micropores and a very large specific surface area, giving them strong physical adsorption capacity. As water flows through the bed, organic contaminants are effectively adsorbed onto the activated carbon. In addition, the amorphous surface of the activated carbon contains oxygen-containing functional groups, which further enhance the adsorption of organic pollutants in the water as it passes through the bed. Activated carbon filters are widely used water-treatment equipment; when employed as part of a pre-treatment stage in a desalination system, they help extend the service life of downstream equipment, improve water quality, and prevent fouling—particularly the poisoning of downstream reverse-osmosis membranes and ion-exchange resins caused by residual chlorine.

The primary factors influencing the adsorption performance and service life of activated carbon filters include the type and concentration of pollutants, the residence time of air within the filter media, and the temperature and humidity of the air.

In practical applications, the filtration configuration and type of activated carbon should be determined based on factors such as the type and concentration of pollutants and the volume of air to be treated.

Good dust-filtering filters should be installed upstream and downstream of the activated carbon filter, with an efficiency rating of F7 or higher. The upstream filter prevents dust from clogging the activated carbon media, while the downstream filter captures dust generated by the activated carbon itself.

What is the working principle of an activated carbon filter?

The activated carbon filter employs granular activated carbon to further remove residual chlorine, organic matter, and suspended solids from the water through mechanical filtration, thereby creating favorable conditions for subsequent reverse osmosis treatment. The filter primarily relies on the high carbon content, large molecular weight, and extensive specific surface area of activated carbon’s organic aggregates to physically adsorb impurities in the water and meet water quality requirements. As water passes through the pores of the activated carbon, van der Waals forces cause various suspended particles and organic substances to be adsorbed into these pores. Simultaneously, the chlorine (hypochlorous acid) adsorbed on the surface of the activated carbon undergoes a chemical reaction, being reduced to chloride ions, thus effectively removing chlorine and reducing residual chlorine levels to below 0.1 ppm—meeting the operating conditions for ROM systems. Over time, the pore size and interparticle spacing within the activated carbon gradually increase, until the pressure differential across the filter element reaches a point where the filter can no longer function effectively. Under normal circumstances, based on the pressure difference between the inlet and outlet of the filter, backwashing is performed in a countercurrent flow to dislodge most of the retained contaminants adsorbed in the activated carbon pores, carrying them away with the water flow and restoring the filter’s adsorption capacity. When the activated carbon reaches its saturation adsorption capacity, it must be regenerated or replaced to meet engineering requirements.