Email Us
03.10.2024
Brooke Kirshne
Clean air is important for every living organism on planet Earth but air pollution is decreasing the quality of air day-by-day. The reasons behind declining air quality are deforestation, industrialization, urbanization, and many other factors. This problem is affecting indoor air quality also and according to the US EPA (United States Environmental Protection Agency), indoor air is 2 to 5 times poorer than outdoor air. To fix indoor air quality, an air filter was invented in 1848 by Lewis P. Haslett. Air filters have evolved in all of these years and are used in many places like homes, hospitals, workplaces, etc.
Today, an air filter is an important part of an HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, And Air Conditioner) system. The filter acts as a barrier between air and the system, the air-polluted air passes through the filter and pollutants get captured as a result air is purified. In today’s world air filters are available in many types and activated carbon filters are one of the most used filters to clean indoor air. In this blog, the readers will learn all about activated carbon filters.
What Is An Activated Carbon Air Filter?
Before learning about activated carbon air filters you must know about activated carbon. It is also known as activated charcoal and this material is usually used for removing contaminants from water and air. The activated carbon is made from carbonaceous source materials like coconut husk, wood, coal, bamboo, etc. The ingredients of activated carbon go through the physical process (Carbonization) or chemical process. The creation of activated carbon enhances its ability to trap molecules by increasing its surface area.
The activated carbon air filter gets its name because it uses activated carbon and this filter is also known as an activated charcoal filter. In the manufacturing process of this filter, the activated carbon is heated to a very high temperature and this increases the carbon’s surface area significantly. After this, the carbon material is placed in the filter’s media in fine powder form and this is how an activated carbon air filter is made.
How Activated Carbon Air Filters Work?
The activated carbon air filters use adsorption for their filtration process which is very different from other types of air filters. Adsorption is very different from absorption, in absorption the pollutants are absorbed inside a structure. An example of absorption is a sponge absorbing water inside its microscopic spaces. On the other hand, adsorption means a molecule like a pollutant gathers on the surface of the adsorbing material.
An activated carbon air filter uses adsorption while the HVAC system is pulling all of the inside a room. While pulling the air, the air passes through the filter, and during this process activated carbons do their work. Airborne pollutants like VOCs (volatile organic compounds), smoke, etc stuck on the surface of the filter due to its adsorption factor. With the help of this process, individuals have a living place free of airborne contaminants.
Types Of Activated Carbon Air Filters
An activated carbon air filter comes in many varieties and each of them has different designs and functions that serve air filtration according to different needs. By learning about the types of these filters people can easily understand their requirements and choose an activated carbon filter that suits their needs. So here are some of the best types of activated carbon air filters:
1. GAC (Granular Activated Carbon) Filters
As you can understand by the name, a granular activated carbon air filter uses small granules of activated carbon and this increases its surface area for air filtration. This type of filter is usually used in standalone air purifiers and this filter is efficient at eliminating volatile organic compounds, gasses, and odors. These filters are very versatile which makes them best for many applications.
2. PAC (Powdered Activated Carbon) Filters
The PAC air filters use finely ground particles of activated carbon which provides them a larger surface area for their adsorption process. These air filters are commonly used in many industries' air purification settings and some HVAC systems. A powdered activated carbon filter is known for its highly efficient air filtration ability which removes odors, and other types of gasses effectively.
3. Impregnated Carbon Air Filters
The impregnated carbon air filters are created by infusing activated carbon with other air purification substances that increase their air filtration capabilities. Usually, an impregnated carbon filter consists of potassium iodide or some specific metals that increase its airborne pollutants-eliminating ability. These filters are usually used for terminating specific airborne pollutants.
4. Honeycomb-Activated Carbon Filters
The honeycomb-activated carbon air filter gets its name because it has a honeycomb design which allows it to maximize its surface area for air purification. The structure of this filter makes it efficient in capturing odors and gasses. These filters are often used in many HVAC systems and home air purifiers and the best thing about these filters is that they allow balanced airflow that makes an HVAC system work efficiently.
Benefits Of Using An Activated Carbon Air Filter
Using activated carbon air filters has many benefits and due to their benefits, these filters have become one of the most used air filters for indoor air filtration. Here are some of the key benefits of using an activated charcoal air filter:
1. Enhances Indoor Air Quality
In this futuristic world where declining indoor air quality has become a global issue, an activated carbon filter helps to increase indoor air quality. This filter removes many types of airborne pollutants that significantly decrease air quality. So people who want to improve the indoor air quality of their house should invest in this filter.
2. Eliminates Uncomfortable Odors
As mentioned in the above section an activated carbon air filter efficiently adsorbed molecules like that are in the form of gaseous which includes uncomfortable odors also. These odors are formed by cooking in the kitchen, especially when frying or grilling foods. Garbage and food waste also contribute to the increase in odors. An activated carbon air filter adsorbs the molecules of these odors and creates a fresh-smelling indoor place.
3. Removes Harmful Gasses
An activated carbon air filter removes harmful gasses from indoor air like VOCs (volatile organic compounds). The VOCs are gasses that are released from some solids and liquids substances. Some of these compounds can cause short or long-term health issues for some people. The amount of VOC air indoors is ten times higher than outdoors and these gasses are released from day-to-day used things like paints, cleaning products, furnishings, etc. The activated carbon filter easily captures these harmful gasses and provides a safe and healthy indoor environment.
4. Long Lifespan
An activated carbon air filter can have a longer lifespan than other types of air filters because this filter can be used as a combination with the pre-filters of an HVAC system. This provides a huge benefit to filter users because using it with other filters will provide a double layer of protection from airborne contaminants inside living places. The pre-filter will protect from large airborne particles and the activated carbon filter will eliminate contaminants like VOCs and odor molecules. So using an activated carbon filter with a pre-filter will expand its life and efficiency of filtration.
5. Eco-Friendly
One of the key benefits of using an activated carbon filter is that it is environment-friendly. The manufacturing process of this filter uses natural ingredients like coal, wood, coconut shells, etc. The main thing that makes a carbon filter eco-friendly is that it doesn’t release harmful toxins like ozone by electrostatic or some other filters. An activated carbon air filter can be recycled and due to this, it doesn’t create any waste.
Key Factors To Consider Before Choosing Activated Carbon Air Filters
Before choosing an activated carbon air filter people should consider some important factors related to this air filter. By learning the factors individuals will ensure that their filter works efficiently for them. Here are some of the key factors to consider before choosing an activated carbon filter:
1. Compatibility
Considering whether an activated carbon filter is compatible with the HVAC system or not is a very crucial thing. Air filters are available in many sizes on the market and if the HVAC user buys a filter without checking the compatibility then all of the user’s money will be wasted. An incompatible activated carbon air filter will not provide effective filtration and can let airborne particles into the HVAC system’s components and this can cause damage.
2. Type
Activated carbon air filters are available in many varieties on the market and selecting one that suits you is a very important thing to consider. Activated carbon filter types like GAC, impregnated carbon, and PAC are some of the most used filters. Each of these filters has its functions. So select a specific type of carbon air filter wisely because the right filter will provide effective indoor air filtration.
3. Airflow Resistance
Considering airflow resistance is very important before choosing an activated carbon air filter. The airflow resistance means pressure that is faced by air while passing through a filter. High airflow resistance will make the HVAC system work for maintaining proper air supply and this happens for a longer period that the HVAC unit can get some damages. So select an activated carbon air filter that creates a balanced airflow resistance.
4. Cost
The cost is an important factor to consider before selecting an activated carbon air filter because the price of a filter can vary due to the filter’s size, quality, and efficiency. So it is important to select a filter that doesn’t have a negative impact on your budget. Remember to consider maintenance costs also because replacing a filter regularly may impact your budget.
Conclusion
Activated carbon air filters are a great solution for improving indoor air quality because they are efficient at eliminating odors and gasses that can be harmful to health. The effective filtration ability of these filters makes them good filter options for residential and commercial settings. One of the limitations of activated carbon filters is they can’t remove large airborne particles but they can be used with other filters to increase their filtration capabilities.
Investing in activated carbon filters and maintaining them regularly is beneficial for you and your family because by doing that this filter will make the indoor environment healthy. The quality of air is a crucial thing and a filter has become an important component to get a better indoor air quality. If you are a person who is trying to find an air filter for your home then Custom Filters Direct will provide you with that. We provide high-quality customized filters to our customers. For more information about our services, contact us at (877) 749-1748.
