![]() Very small contaminants will need to be filtered with a small micron size rated filter, such as. The higher the rating, the larger the contaminant size. Generally, the range is from 50 microns down to. * Filter replacement schedule will vary based upon local water conditions and household usage Carbon Block Filters are Rated in MicronsĬarbon block filters are rated by the size of contaminants that can be removed at the micron level. May do a better job at adsorbing certain contaminants GAC filters also have very high adsorption properties and can remove contaminants including chlorine, hydrogen sulfide, lead and much more.Ĭan filter sediment, as well as pesticides, heavy metals, and other contaminants Water flows more freely through this stage, so flow rates are higher for GAC filters than carbon block filters. The granular activated carbon or GAC water filter is made of loose carbon granules. Water will generally flow slower during this filtration stage due to the compact nature of the compressed carbon. Carbon block water filters are extremely effective in filtering out a variety of contaminants including very small contaminants or particle size. Many water filter systems use both carbon block AND GAC filters in the water filtration process.Ĭarbon block filters are made of a solid block of compressed carbon and are often used as a pre-filter in reverse osmosis and other water filtration systems. What is the difference between a carbon block filter and a GAC filter? Carbon block filters and GAC filters are made of the same material, but one is made of ground up loose carbon and the other is the loose carbon that has been compressed. The smaller the micron rating, the finer the filtration and the lower the flow rate. A carbon block filter is rated to a certain micron rating depending on how much the carbon is compressed. And flow rates are impacted by the micron rating of the filter. In a carbon block filter, one pound of compressed activated carbon (the amount in a standard ten-inch filter cartridge) has the equivalent surface area of a 160 acre farm, making it one of the most absorbent materials known to man.īecause of the compressed nature of a carbon block filter, water flow rates are lower than that of a GAC filter made of loose medium. What is a Carbon Block Filter?Ī carbon block filter is where the loose pieces of carbon are compressed together to form a filter. GAC filters are able improve taste and odor, and are therefore commonly used as one or two stages in a reverse osmosis system. Municipal water treatment plants use disinfectants such as chlorine and chloramine which can leave an objectional taste and odor in drinking water. ![]() GAC filters are often used to remove VOCs, pesticides, nitrates, hydrogen sulfide, and much more. Granular activated carbon (otherwise known as GAC) filters have extremely high adsorption capabilities and can remove a wide variety of contaminants (see contaminant list here). While a GAC carbon filter is simply loose pieces of carbon, a carbon block filter is where the loose pieces of carbon are compressed together to form a filter. GAC filters are usually used as a "polishing filter' in the water filtration process and are highly effective at improving the taste and odor of drinking water. GAC stands for "granular activated carbon" and is made of tiny, loose granules of carbon. What is a Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) Water Filter? Activated carbon is ideal for removing chlorine, organic chemicals such as pesticides, THMs like chloroform, and many VOCs that are components of gasoline, solvents and industrial cleaners. Adsorption means that contaminants are attracted to the surface of the activated carbon and held to it, much the same way a magnet attracts and holds iron filings.Ĭarbon filters also act as a catalyst to change the chemical composition of some contaminants. How do Carbon Filters Work?Ĭarbon filters remove contaminants through adsorption. The material is then subjected to 1600-degree steam to “activate” the carbon. The steam leaves carbon granules filled with cracks and pores, enabling them to store large amounts of chemicals and contaminants. To create the filter, material is heated in the absence of oxygen to 1000 degrees to bake off impurities. Of the above-mentioned carbon sources, coconut shells are the most widely used and are highly renewable. In fact, nearly every type of water filter system-whether it's a backpacking water filter, refrigerator filter, shower filter, pitcher filter, reverse osmosis water filtration system or whole-house filter-utilizes carbon filtration in some way.Ĭarbon filters for water filtration are produced by grinding up a carbon source. Carbon is a commonly-used medium in water filtration processes. ![]()
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