This article will provide explanation of the activated carbon block water filter, including how it works and choosing among options for specific ones.In the process of filtering water, activated carbon is often used to remove contaminants and impurities. Carbon is probably the most absorbent material known to man, and it is uniquely efficient because of thousands of tiny pores that can absorb. For example, a pound of activated carbon provides 125 acres of filtering surface area. The carbon is positively charged to attract negatively charged impurities such as chlorine, chemicals and volatile organic compounds.Most carbon water filters are either made with granular activated carbon (GAC), or powdered block carbon material. Those with carbon block are the most effective, since there is a larger ratio of activated carbon surface area to water, and also because the powdered block form is denser and water travels through it more slowly. The larger surface area created by the block carbon, and the more time the water is in contact with the carbon, the more contaminants are removed.Activate carbon water filters are rated by the size of contaminants they remove. These range from around 50 microns down to .5 microns. The smaller the measurement the more effective the filter. A number of different substances are used to make the carbon for these filters, such as bituminous, wood and coconut shell. Of these, coconut shell is the most expensive, but has been found to also be the most effective. It has the ability to remove even the smallest particles of contaminant.When choosing a carbon water filter, the decision must be made between an activated carbon water filter and a carbon block water filter. Since the activated carbon attracts negatively charged contaminants- like chlorine, benzine and cancer causing chemicals–and the block carbon provides the most effective filter, the water filter should be the activated carbon block water filter. Since activated carbon block is not as effective at removing sediment, a filter containing the activated carbon block also contains another filter substance to reduce sediment. These multilevel filters are best.Â
