Activated carbon is one of the most widely used filtration media in water treatment. The material has an extremely large internal surface area that can adsorb organic compounds, taste, odour and certain environmental contaminants. Activated carbon is often used as a polishing stage following other treatment processes and before final disinfection.
Suitable for
- Taste and odour
- Humic substances and organic matter
- Chlorine and oxidation by-products
- PFAS reduction in many applications
- Drinking water polishing
- Post-treatment after ozone
Advantages
- Effective for taste and odour control
- Can reduce many organic compounds
- No chemical dosing required
- Proven and well-established technology
- Can be combined with most other treatment methods
Limitations
- Does not normally remove dissolved salts
- Does not normally remove fluoride
- Has limited capacity and must eventually be replaced or regenerated
- Works best together with pretreatment and filtration
Common Types of Activated Carbon
- Granular Activated Carbon (GAC)
- Powdered Activated Carbon (PAC)
- Activated Carbon Block
- Specialized PFAS Media
Example Treatment Trains
Lake Water
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Screen Filter
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Sand Filtration
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Ozone Oxidation
↓
Activated Carbon
↓
UV Disinfection
↓
Drinking Water
Water
↓
Activated Carbon
↓
UV Disinfection
↓
Drinking Water
Particle Filtration
↓
Activated Carbon
↓
Fine Filtration
↓
UV Disinfection
↓
Drinking Water
Municipal Water
↓
Activated Carbon
↓
Fine Filtration
↓
Drinking Water
Activated carbon has a limited adsorption capacity and must be replaced or regenerated periodically. A saturated carbon filter will gradually lose treatment performance and may in some cases provide an environment for microbial growth. Proper maintenance is therefore essential for long-term performance.