Carbon Filters

Carbon filters are renowned for their exceptional ability to effectively remove impurities, odours, and contaminants from air, water, and other fluids. Utilising their highly porous structure carbon filters adsorb molecules, resulting in cleaner and purer output.

Common contaminants removed by carbon filters include Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) such as benzene, formaldehyde, and toluene, which are commonly found in household products, paints, and industrial emissions. Chlorine and Chloramines; Efficiently eliminate chlorine and chloramines from water, improving taste and odour. Odours and Foul Smells; Highly effective at neutralising and removing unpleasant odours and foul smells from air and water sources; Organic Contaminant remove organic contaminants, including pesticides, herbicides, and other chemicals.

What is an activated carbon filter?

An activated carbon filter is a filtration device that uses activated carbon media to remove contaminants and impurities from liquids or gases through adsorption, not to be confused with absorption. Adsorption involves the adhesion of molecules onto the surface of the carbon particles.

What are the types of activated carbon used in filters?

Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) – Loose granules, used in bulk systems or filters with longer contact times.
Powdered Activated Carbon (PAC) – Fine powders, often added directly to liquids.
Carbon Block Filters – Compressed carbon with a binder, used for finer particulate removal and more consistent performance.

How does activated carbon work in filtration?

Activated carbon has a highly porous structure with a large internal surface area (up to 1500 m²/g), making it effective at trapping organic molecules, chlorine, chloramine, and certain volatile compounds. These are adsorbed onto the carbon's surface as the fluid passes through the filter.

What contaminants do activated carbon filters remove?

They are highly effective at removing:

Chlorine and chloramine
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)
Pesticides and herbicides
Taste and odour compounds
Certain pharmaceutical residues

They are not effective against dissolved salts, heavy metals (unless impregnated), or microbial pathogens unless part of a combined system.

What are typical applications of activated carbon filters?

Municipal water treatment
Food & beverage production (e.g., dechlorination prior to RO membranes)
Pharmaceutical & biotech (removal of residual solvents and organics)
Chemical processing
Ink and paint manufacturing
Odour control in air filtration

Do activated carbon filters remove bacteria or viruses?

No, standard activated carbon filters do not remove bacteria or viruses. Some carbon filters may be combined with antimicrobial media or membrane layers to address microbiological contaminants.

How long do activated carbon filters last?

Service life depends on:

Contaminant loading
Flow rate – Carbon filters should be sized on a maximum flowrate of 3.8 l/min per 10” module. This ensures sufficient residence time in the cartridge to ensure adsorption fully occurs.
Carbon type and quantity Typical cartridge-style filters may last from 1 to 6 months, but this can vary widely.

End-of-life is usually defined by breakthrough of contaminants or increased pressure drop.

How do you know when to replace an activated carbon filter?

Monitoring pressure drop across the filter
Breakthrough detection via taste, odor, or lab testing
Manufacturer’s rated capacity, often in litres or hours of use. A typical manufacturers capacity is 22,700 litres per 10” module at a flow of 3.8 l/min for chlorine, odour and taste removal.

Can activated carbon filters be regenerated?

Generally, no – especially in cartridge format. Industrial systems with bulk GAC beds can sometimes be thermally regenerated, but this is not feasible for most applications due to complexity and cost.

Are there any risks associated with activated carbon filters?

If not properly maintained, biological growth can occur on the carbon bed, especially in warm, nutrient-rich water.

Filters should be changed at recommended intervals and not used beyond their specified capacity.

All our filter products are manufactured to the highest quality standards with certificates of conformity and validation guides that can be provided upon request.

All filters used in the food & beverage markets are EU and FDA compliant for material in food contact. Additionally certain products are Halal or Kosher certified.
Filters for use in healthcare or pharmaceutical applications meet the requirements of US FDA 21 and evaluated in accordance with USP Class VI plastics.
Products provided for automotive use in paint systems are silicone free.