When selecting activated carbon for a particular application, several factors shouldbe considered:
Type of contaminant: Identify the major contaminant to be removed from thewater. Different types of activated carbon are better at adsorbing certaincontaminants. For example, granular activated carbon (GAC) is good for organiccompounds and chlorine, and catalytic carbon works well for chloramines andhydrogen sulphide.
Pore structure: Consider the distribution of pore sizes of the activated carbon.Activated carbons (microporous) are good adsorbents for small molecules andorganic compounds. Wider pore size distribution of activated carbons may be moreeffective for removal of larger molecules and contaminants.
Surface area: Determine the surface area of the activated carbon, which directlyinfluences its adsorption capacity. The higher the surface area the more efficientthe adsorption. Powdered activated carbon (PAC) generally has a higher surfacearea than granular activated carbon (GAC) and is preferred in applications whererapid adsorption kinetics are desired.
Contact time: The length of time the water is in contact with the activated carbon inthe filter system. Think about flow rate and bed depth to optimise contact time andmaximise filtration efficiency.
Regeneration potential: Assess the ability of the activated carbon to be regeneratedor reactivated. Activated carbons can be regenerated by thermal or chemicalmeans, which can prolong their useful life and reduce operating costs.
System compatibility: check that the activated carbon is suitable for your filtrationsystem and its operating conditions. Take into account factors like temperature, pH,and pressure to avoid problems like compaction or degradation of the carbon bed.
