Three key factors that determine the performance of activated carbon filters

As the core component of air purification and water treatment systems, the performance of activated carbon filters directly affects the filtering effect. The main factors that determine the performance of activated carbon filters can be summarized into the following three aspects:

The first is the raw material. Activated carbon is mainly divided into three categories: coconut shell charcoal, coal charcoal and wood charcoal. Among them, coconut shell charcoal has become the preferred raw material for high-end filter elements due to its developed microporous structure and high hardness. Experimental data show that the iodine adsorption value of high-quality coconut shell charcoal can reach more than 1000mg/g, while ordinary coal charcoal is usually only 600-800mg/g. In addition, the purity of the raw materials is also crucial, and the ash content must be controlled below 5%.

The second is the production process. The degree of activation determines the pore structure of activated carbon, and the specific surface area of ​​high-quality activated carbon can reach 1000-1500 square meters/gram. The current mainstream steam activation method can form a more uniform pore size distribution, among which 2-5 nanometer micropores are most suitable for adsorbing organic pollutants. In addition, the quality of the sintering molding process directly affects the structural strength and service life of the filter element.

Finally, there is the application design. The carbon layer thickness, filling density and water/air flow velocity of the filter element will affect the actual use effect. Taking the water purifier as an example, the contact time needs to be controlled at 5-10 seconds to ensure full adsorption. The composite design can improve the removal rate of specific pollutants in a targeted manner by matching materials such as PP cotton and KDF.

It is worth noting that environmental factors such as temperature and pH value will also affect the adsorption performance of activated carbon. For example, in an acidic environment, the removal efficiency of activated carbon for heavy metals will be significantly improved. Therefore, in practical applications, it is necessary to select suitable activated carbon filter products according to specific usage scenarios.