Activated Carbon Water Filters have been used in both industrial-scale and personal use. When used as a Water Filter, the Activated Carbon is usually removed completely from the water. However, there are cases wherein the activated carbon remains in the water. But in these cases, the subsequent ingestion of the activated carbon does not cause any harm. This is not so surprising as people have been ingesting Activated Carbon on purpose for its purported health benefits.

Among the various types of Activated Carbon, the Granular Activated Carbon is the best one for removing organic chemicals from water. Aside from that, it is also effective in removing chemicals like hydrogen sulfide. This chemical, along with chlorine, are the usual culprit for objectionable odours or taste in drinking water. Amazing as it is, Activated Carbon has its limits. It cannot adsorb all known contaminants of water. Chemicals that Activated Carbon cannot adsorb includes iron and nitrate. To supplement Activated Carbon’s limitation, a Reverse Osmosis filter could be added in tandem with it. So that whatever chemicals aren’t trapped by the Activated Carbon would be removed by the Reverse Osmosis filter.

What Carbon Filters Reduce From Your Water

So we’ve already dabbled a bit on what Carbon Filters can and cannot remove. Activated Carbon Filters can completely eliminate an impressive 81 chemicals. This is inclusive of all 12 known herbicides and pesticides. Aside from that, it can effectively reduce the amount of 52 other chemicals. We’ve also mentioned earlier that Activated Carbon can remove chemicals such as chlorine which is a disinfectant that may impart an unpleasant taste and smell to our drinking water. There are certain conditions in which chlorine may react with some pre-existing chemicals in water and generate carcinogenic byproducts. These byproducts can be eliminated by the Activated Carbon Filter as well.

Just to make it clear. Although Carbon Filters can remove a wide variety of pollutants, it cannot remove all of them. Minerals, salts, and metals are some of the things that can slip through the filter easily. However, a type of Carbon Filter called Carbon Block can remove metal and mineral pollutants such as lead, radon, mercury, arsenic, and asbestos. Aside from that, it can filter microbiological contaminants. Despite being effective in removing harmful metals and minerals, beneficial ones can pass through. So when it comes to the variety of chemicals that a carbon filter could eliminate, Carbon Block is the best carbon filter type.