Carbon Filters & Activated Carbon Filters

Carbon Filter

A carbon filter, also known as an activated carbon filter, uses activated carbon to remove contaminants and impurities through chemical absorption. With a large surface area, it effectively filters out organic matter, odors, and traces of oil vapor from air, gas, and liquids, ensuring high purity for critical applications like pharmaceuticals and breathing systems.

  1. Remove impurities of very small particles like chemical, toxins.
  2. High-level Purification
  3. Easy Installation
  4. Very Cost Effectiveness
  5. Easy Maintenance

Activated carbon filters provide excellent filtration for many industrial uses by removing gases and chemicals. They trap harmful vapors in fume cupboards, capture smoke and odors in gas purification, and reduce harmful fumes in metal processing. In renewable energy production, they absorb toxic chemicals, improving biogas yield. They also enhance the taste, odor, and color of distilled alcohol.


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Activated Carbon Filter

Activated carbon filtration uses activated carbon, derived from charcoal in granular or powdered form, with a highly porous structure and extensive surface area. This allows for effective physical adsorption and chemical reactions, removing contaminants like free chlorine, organic debris, odour, and colour from water or other liquids. 

Each particle of activated carbon filters provides ample surface area, enhancing exposure to active sites within the filter media. Granular activated carbon is widely used in industrial filters for treating large volumes of water, up to 170 m3/h. Peat-based activated carbon with larger pores is available for applications needing odor, organic matter, and oil trace removal.

Activated Carbon Filter for Filtration Solutions

At Kumar Process Consultants, we specialize in providing high-performance activated carbon filters for industrial filtration solutions. Our activated carbon filtration systems are designed to effectively remove contaminants, ensuring clean and safe water for various applications. These activated carbon water filters are essential for eliminating organic compounds, bad odors, and chemicals like chlorine from water.


Our activated carbon water filtration system offers a robust solution for industrial needs, providing superior performance in carbon water filtration. These filters are crafted to handle diverse filtration challenges, including the removal of organic impurities and chlorine, making them ideal for improving water quality in manufacturing and other critical processes.


With advanced technology and stringent quality standards, our activated carbon water filter system ensures enhanced longevity and optimal surface area utilization. Trust Kumar Process Consultants for reliable carbon filters and activated carbon filters that deliver effective and efficient water treatment solutions.


Activated Carbon Filter Working Principle

Activated carbon filters purify water by adsorbing contaminants onto the surface of carbon particles. They effectively remove organic compounds, chlorine, VOCs, and disinfection by-products. As water flows through the filter, it contacts the porous carbon, which has a large surface area that traps impurities.

The filtration efficiency depends on factors like pore size, surface area, and contact time. Microporous carbon is particularly good at capturing small molecules and organics, while longer contact times improve overall contaminant removal.

Filtration Methods for Activated Carbon Filters

Activated carbon filters are essential for effective activated carbon filtration, offering robust solutions for various water treatment needs. The performance of carbon filters depends on the source of the activated carbon and the manufacturing process. Here’s an overview of key filtration methods used in activated carbon water filter systems:

  • Steam Activation: This method involves heating carbonized material to 800°C-1000°C using steam, which activates the carbon and creates a fine pore structure. This is ideal for activated carbon water filtration systems that need to adsorb both liquid and vapor phase compounds efficiently.
  • Chemical Activation: In this process, a dehydrating agent like phosphoric acid or zinc chloride is used to treat the carbon at temperatures between 500°C-800°C. This method produces a carbon with a very open pore structure, making it suitable for adsorbing larger molecules. It is commonly used in activated carbon filters for water treatment to address specific contaminants.

Choosing the Right Activated Carbon Filter for Water Treatment

Selecting the correct activated carbon filter is crucial for effective water treatment and optimal system performance. Here's what to consider:

  • Identify Contaminants : GAC removes organic compounds and chlorine, while catalytic carbon is better at tackling chloramines and hydrogen sulfide.
  • Evaluate Pore Structure : Consider the pore size distribution. Microporous carbon is suitable for small molecules and organics, while larger pores handle larger molecules and contaminants.
  • Assess Surface Area : Higher surface area increases adsorption capacity. Powdered activated carbon (PAC) offers greater efficiency for rapid adsorption compared to GAC.
  • Optimize Contact Time : Adjust flow rate and bed depth to ensure optimal contact time between water and activated carbon, enhancing filtration efficiency.
  • Consider Regeneration Potential : Check if the activated carbon can be regenerated through thermal or chemical processes to extend its lifespan and reduce costs.
  • Ensure System Compatibility : Verify compatibility with filtration system conditions like temperature, pH, and pressure to avoid operational issues.

Types of Carbon Filters

  • Granular Activated Carbon (GAC): GAC is widely used in water treatment due to its irregularly shaped granules with a large surface area, which effectively adsorb contaminants. It is commonly used in fixed-bed filtration systems where water flows through a tube packed with these granules, capturing impurities like organic compounds, chlorine, and substances that affect water taste and smell.
  • Powdered Activated Carbon (PAC): PAC consists of finely ground activated carbon with a large surface area relative to its volume. It's used for rapid adsorption in water treatment, either added directly to water or mixed with other media to enhance contaminant removal. PAC is particularly effective against dissolved organic compounds such as pesticides, pharmaceuticals, and industrial chemicals.
  • Activated Carbon Fibre (ACF): ACF is made from interconnected carbon fibres, offering a highly porous structure that provides superior adsorption capacity, faster kinetics, and stronger mechanical properties compared to regular activated carbon. It is well-suited for applications requiring efficient filtration, including point-of-use water purifiers, respirators, and medical devices.
  • Catalytic Carbon: Catalytic carbon includes additives that boost its ability to adsorb and chemically chage contaminants. Unlike regular activated carbon, which relies on physical adsorption, catalytic carbon can chemically convert substances like chloramines and hydrogen sulphide into less harmful forms. It is widely used in municipal water treatment, swimming pools, and home water filters for effectively tackling tough contaminants.

Advanced High-Capacity Liquid Carbon Filters

ASC carbon filters offer reliable and efficient carbon water filtration for demanding applications, thanks to their high surface area and durable construction. Each cartridge features a high-purity carbon block combined with a spun-bonded PP pre-filter, all housed in a robust cage with reinforced end caps.


These filters ensure wide chemical compatibility, avoiding issues like fluidization, channeling, or bypass, and provide an extensive carbon surface area for effective filtration. They are ideal for reducing color in bottled water, removing VOCs, cutting ozone, treating plating bath organics, and eliminating oil residues and odors, guaranteeing long-lasting performance and robust filtration.

Activated Carbon Filters for Liquid and Gas Service

ARC activated carbon filters offer reliable and cost-effective activated carbon filtration for medium-duty and semi-critical applications. Featuring multilayers of impregnated activated carbon polyester felt with a spun-bonded PP pre-filter, these filters are housed in a sturdy cage with a reinforced end cap. 


They provide key benefits such as low-pressure drop for high flow rates, a large carbon surface area for effective filtration, and no issues with fluidization, channeling, or bypass. Additionally, they reduce oil content to <0.003 mg/m³. Ideal for filtering compressed air and nitrogen, removing oil vapor after coalescing, pre-filtration for oil-sensitive equipment, and hydrocarbon removal in poor air quality areas, these filters ensure robust protection for your investment, equipment, and processes.

Features of Activated Carbon Filters

  • Uses different carbon grades based on treatment needs.
  • Handles chlorine level variations without constant monitoring.
  • Equipped with pressure gauges; backwashing is done by reversing the flow.
  • Non-corrosive FRP pressure containers with UPVC front piping.
  • Contains carbon granules supported by gravel, pebbles, and sand.

Benefits of Carbon Filters

Organic Removal

Organic Removal:

Activated carbon filters are great at removing a wide range of organic substances, like pesticides, solvents, and PFAS, using adsorption. For these activated carbon water filters to work best, you need to choose the right size and type of carbon for the specific contaminants. By picking the right filters and sizing them properly, you can effectively remove harmful pollutants, making your water or air cleaner and safer.

Chlorine Removal

Chlorine Removal:

Carbon filters are highly effective at removing chlorine, chloramine, and chlorine dioxide from water, ensuring it is safe for use in processes or as drinking water. These carbon water filters are essential for protecting reverse osmosis and demineralization systems from chlorine damage. By incorporating carbon water filtration, you can safeguard your equipment and maintain the quality of your water.

Odour & Taste Removal

Odour & Taste Removal:

Activated carbon filters efficiently remove bad taste and odor from the drinking water. Color in drinking water can also be absorbed by activated carbon.

Carbon Filter Price

Carbon filters are essential for improving the quality of water and air by getting rid of impurities, bad smells, and unwanted tastes. The carbon filter cost depends on its size, type, and working principle. Factors like the filter’s capacity, material quality, and extra features such as pre-filters or multi-stage filtration affect the cost. 

Carbon Filter Uses

  • Reducing COD, BOD, and odor in wastewater
  • Controlling flue gas emissions
  • Purifying gases like CO2 and biogas
  • Decolorizing liquid syrups
  • Decolorizing and purifying glycerin
  • Purifying gas and air, chemical liquids
  • Removing color from liquids
  • Recovering and adsorbing solvents
  • Acting as a catalyst carrier in oxidation-reduction reactions
  • Purifying potable water (NSF Grade)

Why Choose Kumar Process for Carbon filter?

We have extensive experience in overall filtration systems design for industrial processes, and we can optimize the type of carbon, overall carbon requirement, contact time, and other parameters to offer you a well-designed system at an economical price for your process.

FAQs

How often should you change your carbon filter?

Change your carbon filter every 6-12 months, depending on usage and water quality.

Are Activated Carbon Filters Safe?

Activated carbon filters are safe for water and air purification applications. The filters have mechanisms to contain the activated carbon particles within them, so that they do not end up in your drinking water!

What are the benefits of activated carbon filters?

Activated carbon filters effectively remove contaminants like chlorine, organic compounds, and odors from water and air, providing clean and purified water.

Can activated carbon filters remove heavy metals from water?

Yes, some activated carbon filters can effectively remove heavy metals from water.

What are the limitations of using activated carbon filtration in water treatment?

Activated carbon filtration is less effective against certain contaminants like salts, minerals, and dissolved inorganic compounds, which may require alternative treatment methods. Also, once saturated, the filters need to be regenerated or disposed of.