Unless you’re an aquarium hobbyist or own a water purification system that uses carbon, the idea of activated carbon in HEPA air purifiers probably seems strange to you. Even if the concept isn’t completely foreign, most still don’t know exactly what activated carbon actually does.
How Is Active Carbon Used In HEPA Air Purifiers?
For most people, though, the first time they encounter activated carbon will be in choosing HEPA air purifiers. Most customer begin their search for air purifiers due to asthma or allergies. As they learn more about HEPA air purifiers, though, they’ll learn that many of their respiratory problems come from chemicals and odors in the room. Therefore, most quality HEPA air purifiers are designed to address the chemicals and odors as well as the allergens themselves.
How Was Activated Carbon Used Before HEPA Air Purifiers?
Believe it or not, humans were using activated carbon to purify water as many as two centuries ago. Even back then, we knew of activated carbon’s exceptional absorption qualities. It was not until the early 1900′s, though, that the stuff was produced in a form that could be sold commercially. Produced commercially, activated carbon was sold as powder. Back then, it was used only to remove smell or taste from water and to remove the color from sugar. As World War I got into full swing, we discovered that activated carbon could be used in gas masks to protect soldiers from chemical agents in the air. Not only that, but it was used for war time water and air purifying. At this point, instead of being used in powder for, it was used in a granular form. This was the beginning of activated carbon being used in many ways.
What Does “Activated” Mean?
So, what is “activated” carbon, and is there such a thing as non-activated carbon? The heat used in “activating” the carbon drives the impurities out of the carbon itself, leaving places for the impurities of the water or air or whatever it is the carbon is filtering to reside. In a way, carbon can act sort of like a sponge, only instead of squeezing out its contents, one heats it out. Once the activated carbon is full, it can be reactivated by re-heating it, though this is considered to be impractical and dangerous. Non-activated carbon would basically be carbon that has stuff in it already, such as soot or charcoal.
Different Types Of Activated Carbon
There are a variety of types of activated carbon, and it is described in a variety of ways, but generally activated carbon includes a wide range of amorphous carbon-based materials. These materials have a high degree of porosity (lots of holes) and a relatively large surface area. Basically, this means it has excellent absorbent characteristics. These absorbent characteristics are why activated carbon works so well filtering air and water both.
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