Activated Carbon Suppliers - What Are the Restrictions?

There are many types of activated carbon filters available on the market today, each of which have their own benefits and features. However, most companies choose to use these filters because they have proven to be quite effective in purifying tap water. In order for a company to understand the benefits of having this type of filtration equipment in their facility, it is important to learn about all of the activated carbon filtration equipment that is currently on the market.

With so many types of filters to choose from, it can become confusing as to what one company might consider to be the right brand to purchase for their needs. Basically, there are three main types of filters made from activated carbon suppliers. These are granular activated carbon, multi media blocks, and air purification by adsorption. The specific feature of each type depends upon how it will be used.

Carbon granular activated carbon is made up of fine particulates of carbon that are trapped by an activated carbon compound. When these particles come into contact with other contaminants they can easily grab hold and be dislodged. Activated carbon is commonly used in water treatment systems and most municipal disinfection plants around the world to use this technology. This filter has the ability to remove volatile organic chemicals, lead, and chlorine. It also reduces the amount of particulates found in ground water.

The second type of activated carbon filtration equipment is the multi media block. As the name would imply, this particular type of filter consists of multiple small particles that are arranged in a mesh structure. Each of the different particles is designed to catch and remove a variety of contaminants. The larger and heavier the particle, the better chance it has of catching and removing contaminants. For instance, larger granular activated carbon granules would work well for septic tanks while air purification by adsorption will work best with large aquariums or facilities.

The third type of activated carbon filter is the multimedia block that utilizes coconut shell. In air purification and water treatment systems this particular filter is usually combined with carbon granules. However, in applications where a more lightweight filter is desired, such as in the case of air purification or aquarium use, coconut shell is usually not used. For that reason, some believe that this material can actually perform as well as the carbon granular variety. Unfortunately, all good things have to come to an end and the popularity of coconut shell filters proved to be short-lived.

As of the time of this writing, there are no other bulk activated carbon adsorption equipment suppliers that utilize coconut shell filtration. While there may be some that will in the future, chances are that most manufacturing facilities and vendors already have carbon granular activated carbon on hand. For this reason, bulk activated carbon adsorption equipment is typically reserved for applications that require fine filtration such as odor control.

Bulk activated carbon has two major limitations as far as application is concerned. The first limitation is that activated carbon granules tend to burn easily. While this does not pose a health risk when inhalation occurs, the residue that is left behind can be hazardous. While some forms of activated carbon perform well in such applications, other types do not. The second limitation is that activated carbon tends to be slightly more expensive than other similar materials. This is because it is labor intensive to manually remove carbon granules from sheets of material that is either coated with a polymer that helps to keep the carbon adsorption intact.

Because of these limitations, it appears that activated carbon is becoming more widely used by bulk activated carbon suppliers. With that said, it is important to perform due diligence before purchasing carbon granules or activated carbon filters from any supplier. For instance, it would be preferable to purchase from a supplier that is able to provide a good guarantee and to whom you can contact if something should go wrong with your equipment. You should also consider that some bulk activated carbon suppliers offer warranties on their products.