Clean drinking water is vital for the body to function. From digestion to waste removal, water plays an important role in maintaining a healthy body; however, toxins and other additives often find their way into waterways, and subsequently our drinking water. One way you can ensure you always have clean drinking water is by installing a filter.
How Do Charcoal Filters Work?
The charcoal used in water filters isn’t the same as
your average barbecue bricks. Water
filters use what is known as activated charcoal, which is usually pressed into
a solid block or sold as loose beads.
Charcoal activation is
achieved through a process of superheating the charcoal without oxygen
at temperatures over 1000F. Then the charcoal is chemically treated with argon
and nitrogen, followed by a second round of superheating with the addition of
oxygen and steam to create a porous structure. The porous structure of the
activated charcoal is the key factor that makes charcoal water filters so
effective.
Activated charcoal works through the process of
adsorption. Adsorption, as opposed to absorption, binds these impurities
chemically, rather than physically. The pores in activated charcoal increase
the surface area of the charcoal up to an extraordinary 2000 square meters per gram, which drastically improves its
adsorption efficiency.
The reason that activated charcoal makes such a great
material for water filters is that it is natural and effective at removing many
toxins from the water, such as volatile organic compounds and chlorine, without
the use of chemicals or stripping the water of salts and minerals. As you may
remember from chemistry class, carbon-based organic impurities in the water are
attracted to the carbon in the charcoal, which readily bonds to these
impurities. However, other compounds, depending on their molecular weight and
polarity, are not attracted to the carbon, and so pass through the filter.
Because the process results in bonds being formed between compounds, and the
impurities are kept in the filter, charcoal
filters need to be replaced once all the
pores have been filled. Fortunately,
maintaining and replacing charcoal filters is easy and cheap to do, making
charcoal filters a popular choice for many households.
The Benefits of Using a Charcoal Filter
1.
It doesn’t remove the “good stuff.”
Drinking water isn’t just made of
hydrogen and oxygen, there are also many other minerals, in addition to nasty
chemicals and impurities, which make up
the composition of water. While most water filters efficiently remove these
impurities, either mechanically or chemically, they often remove a lot of the
important minerals and ions that are healthy for our bodies.
Due to the
chemical composition and structure of activated charcoal, these filters attract
and absorb unhealthy organic compounds,
while allowing the rest of the minerals to remain in the water. Unfortunately,
it doesn’t remove all pathogens or microorganisms, so charcoal is often used in
conjunction with another filter.
2.
It makes water healthier.
Not
only do charcoal filters remove a lot of the nasty stuff from water, they can add things back into your water to
make it healthier. Activated charcoal can add important minerals, such as
calcium, magnesium and iron back into your water to improve the water quality.
3.
It improves the flavor.
Many
people dislike the taste of tap water, complaining it tastes metallic or has an
off-putting aroma. This taste is often
due to the additives, such as chlorine, that are added to tap water to kill
bacteria and pathogens found in reservoirs. Though this is a necessary process
to protect public health, it often means people avoid drinking tap water,
putting them at risk for dehydration, or they buy
plastic bottled water, which is bad for the environment.
Charcoal filters
not only adsorb these nasty tasting chemicals,
but they are also highly effective at removing odors as well, making
your drinking water much more palatable.
4.
It is cheap.
Many water
filtration systems can be an expensive, though necessary, investment for your
home. Charcoal filters, on the other hand,
are relatively inexpensive to produce, and those savings are passed down to the
consumer.
5.
They are easy to maintain.
Although the filters need to be replaced once the charcoal has been used, replacement parts are cheap, as well
as easy to source and install.
Your charcoal water filter should be replaced approximately every six months. However,
this depends on the amount of water you use and the water quality in your area.
If you are unsure, look at the clarity of your water, observe whether the taste
has changed or whether the flow rate has decreased. If you notice any of these
things, it may be time to change your
filter.
Final Thoughts
Charcoal water filters are one of the most popular types of water filters on the market for good reason. Activated charcoal has numerous economic, ecological and health benefits. Try a charcoal water filter in your home today, and taste the difference.
