Activated Carbon in HEPA Air Purifiers
Unless you’re an aquarium hobbyist or own a water purification system that uses carbon, the idea of activated carbon in HEPA air purifiers probably seems strange to you. Even if the concept isn’t completely foreign, most still don’t know exactly what activated carbon actually does.
How Is Active Carbon Used In HEPA Air Purifiers?
The first time most people encounter activated carbon is in choosing HEPA air purifiers. When most customers begin searching for air purifiers, generally due to allergies or asthma, they really have no idea how they work. As they are further educated about HEPA air purifiers, however, they will learn that odors and chemicals are the cause of the vast majority of their respiratory problems. Most quality HEPA air purifiers are designed to take care of not only allergens, but also the odors and chemicals in the air as well.
Activated Carbon Before HEPA Air Purifiers
Activated carbon has actually been around for quite a while, and though it sounds quite scientific, our ancestors have made good use of it for at least the last two centuries. Back then, they already knew of activated carbon’s extraordinary absorption qualities. In the early 1900’s, the stuff was produced and sold commercially in the form of a powder. At the time it was only used to remove color from sugar or taste or smell from water. Although we didn’t know it at the time, that was barely the tip of what this stuff is capable of. In World War I, the military discovered that they could use activated carbon in gas masks, filtering chemical agents from the air for the soldiers. The soldiers also used it for water purification, just like their ancestors. By this point, it was also available commercially as a granular form instead of just powder, which was when it began finding uses in even more situations.
What The Word “Activated” Means
Most people have a general idea of what carbon is – it’s a mineral. The most basic example would probably be charcoal. Activated carbon is what you get after heat is used on the carbon to drive all of the impurities out, leaving room for more to take their place. Think of it as a sponge, only instead of using pressure to extract the contents, we’re using heat. Once the activated carbon is full, it can actually be reactivated by re-heating, though this is considered by most to be both impractical and dangerous. So, in this case, activated basically means empty.
Are There Different Types Of Activated Carbon?
There are a variety of types of activated carbon, and it is described in a variety of ways, but generally activated carbon includes a wide range of amorphous carbon-based materials. These materials have a high degree of porosity (lots of holes) and a relatively large surface area. Basically, this means it has excellent absorbent characteristics. These absorbent characteristics are why activated carbon works so well filtering air and water both.
Want to learn more about the HEPA Air Purifier? Check out HEPA Air Purifiers Info.
