| Water has been purified with activated carbon | | | | the water purifier quits working. At this |
| for hundreds of years stretching back to | | | | point it is possible to "re-activate" the |
| ancient India. Most of us have seen activated | | | | carbon by reheating it and thus driving off |
| carbon for sale in pet stores for cleaning | | | | the impurities in the air. However, since |
| water and have used a crude cousin, charcoal, | | | | this is a relatively tricky process and may |
| to cook steaks in the backyard. | | | | result in some impurities being picked up |
| | | | from the oven it is probably best to leave |
| As a refined version of charcoal, activated | | | | this to the experts and simply replace the |
| carbon is made by super heating organic | | | | carbon in the water purifier. |
| material like wood or coconut shells. This | | | | |
| super heating drives out impurities and | | | | Contact time is the primary attribute that |
| causes the surface area of the resulting | | | | determines the efficiency or effectiveness of |
| material to become tremendous. It is this | | | | water purifiers. Image a flow of water that |
| large surface area that allows this substance | | | | is moving at a hundred miles per hour though |
| to be used to clean water. | | | | a thin mat of activated carbon. In this |
| | | | scenario not much is going to happen because |
| For years the process of cleaning water with | | | | the water is not in contact with the |
| activated carbon in water purifiers was | | | | activated carbon for a sufficient period of |
| referred to as absorption. This term refers | | | | time. Therefore the higher the volume of |
| to what a sponge does with water and it is | | | | water that the water purifiers is trying to |
| easy to visualize the activated carbon acting | | | | clean the larger the filter should be. This |
| like a sponge, soaking up contaminants. | | | | is why a relatively small activated carbon |
| However, this is not actually how the process | | | | water purifier works great on an ice maker in |
| works. The molecules inside the activated | | | | your home. Not much water is moving though |
| carbon are passive because they are connected | | | | the filter's quarter inch line. This contact |
| to other molecules around their entire | | | | time constraint also indicates that it is |
| perimeter. The molecules on the surface are | | | | better to place several medium sized water |
| not as "happy" because they are exposed on | | | | purifiers around the house than to install a |
| one side without another carbon molecule as | | | | water purifier for the whole house unless you |
| company. Therefore, these exposed carbon | | | | are will to install a very large filter that |
| molecules are actively seeking something to | | | | will have to handle showers and baths. |
| "hook to" or bond with. As impurity in the | | | | |
| water pass the activated carbon these exposed | | | | Now we know that the activated carbon adsorbs |
| molecules bond with the impurities through a | | | | rather than absorbs impurities and that |
| process of adsorption. When the entire | | | | contact time is the most important component |
| surface area of the activated carbon is | | | | in the high quality water equation. These |
| covered with impurities is quits adsorbing | | | | facts indicate that it is best to add several |
| impurities. | | | | water purifiers where needed and to change |
| | | | the activated carbon filters on a regular |
| Once the entire surface of the activated | | | | basis. |
| carbon is completely covered with impurities | | | | |