Charcoal water filter: use cases, what water purifies from

The water running through the central water supply system is not clean and useful; moreover, it can contain many elements and microorganisms harmful to our body. There are quite a few cleaning methods, but most often a carbon filter for water is used. As the name implies, coal acts as an absorbing element in it.

How does coal help purify water?

Coal water filters - one of the most commonly used devices. Especially in those regions where, after treatment by treatment plants, the water still remains of insufficient quality. Activated carbon obtained from coconut shells and hardwoods acts as a working substance in the described filters. After their heat treatment, the resulting material is mixed with coke, other carbon-rich compounds. This increases the porosity of the working substance, gives it the properties necessary for cleaning, in particular the ability to retain impurities by passing water through it.

Large pores are able to retain large organic molecules, and small, respectively, are small particles of all kinds of chemicals.

The activity of coal is evaluated by a parameter called the iodine index.

Also, the production of activated carbon takes into account its hardness. If this indicator deviates from the norm, then particles of the working substance will fall into the liquid that has already passed the purification.

Activated carbon that meets all standards is placed in flasks and cartridges and used as a filter substance. It is widely used in everyday life and industry for water treatment, as an element of air filtration (in hoods), as well as in medicine. True, in the latter case, activation occurs somewhat differently.

The main purpose of carbon filters

Activated carbon filtration devices solve the following problems:

• They help cleanse water of an unpleasant aftertaste, foreign smell, unnatural color, rust, and dirt.
• Remove organic contaminants from harmful microorganisms.
• They help to clean water from the remains of disinfectant compounds and bleach.

Salts, radioactive ions, bacteria, coal are not removed. Extend the cleaning range will help additional devices.

Varieties of carbon filters

The performance of the filter affects its throughput, cleaning quality and other additional options. As a rule, its connection to the central water supply system occurs through a pipe connected to a drinking water supply tap, this allows you to protect the main system from pressure drops. If more complex and productive samples are used, they are installed directly on the main pipes. This device is called main water filter.

It will be determined which particular water filter you need, by carefully studying its basic properties and purposes.

For household needs, the following filter types are most often used:

• Jugs. They are characterized by a low degree of purification; cartridges for water purification require replacement every 2 months. But at the same time, such devices are easy to operate, compact, not tied to a water supply system.

• Nozzles on the crane. Compact, mobile, easy to use, but have a low degree of filtration, require replacement cartridges every 3 months.

• Cartridge filters. Relate to devices that provide an average degree of purification. The carbon cartridges in them can be used as a separate filter or as part of devices that use several degrees of purification. They are divided into: drinking (installed under the sink), with a separate drinking water tap, - have a good filtration rate and resource. And the main - flasks with carbon cartridges are installed on the line of cold and / or hot water. Such a filter protects hair and skin from irritation and dryness caused by chlorinated water. The recommended replacement period for a carbon cartridge is 6 months.
• Balloon (filling) filters - stationary automated systems, incorporate a cylinder filled with activated carbon. They have high performance, which allows them to be used in private homes, hotels, large food processing plants and other facilities. Such systems are more bulky and cost more than jugs and nozzles.

• Items reverse osmosis systems. A modern development, using which you get a crystal clear liquid, consisting only of water and oxygen molecules. Carry out the highest degree of purification.

Separately, we want to highlight automatic sorption filter atoll Excellence B-10C. It effectively removes color, chlorine, organics and other aggressive substances from the water, makes the water clean and transparent. Such a filter protects the hair structure from damage, and the skin from irritation and dryness. It preserves and supports the healing properties of shampoos, toothpastes, as well as perfumes and cosmetics. The filter media is granular activated coconut charcoal.

• Productivity - up to 1.2 m3 / h
• Due to its compact size (H x W x D - 54x37x51 cm) it is suitable even for a small city apartment.
•  And the removable control panel, which can be brought to a convenient place, allows you to install the device in a limited space (under the countertop, washbasin, etc.)

Features of use

In order to be able to operate the carbon filter for a long time and get water free from harmful elements, one should not forget about some limitations:

• Keep track of the pressure level in the water supply system, it should not be higher than recommended by the manufacturers (usually 8 atmospheres).
• Pay attention to the operating temperature - indicated on the cartridge label. There are carbon cartridges only for cold water, and there are universal cartridges for cold and hot.
• For optimal filter operation, the humidity in the room where it is installed should not be higher than 70%.
• To prevent coal dust from entering clean water, it is recommended that you rinse the cartridge for 1–2 minutes before first use.

How to replace the cartridge?

The sequence of actions will be as follows:

1. The water tap is closed.
2. Using the supplied key, the lower part of the filter is unscrewed.
3. The old cartridge is pulled out, the rubber of the seal is washed or replaced with a new one.
4. The remaining water in the flask is poured, and it is washed without the use of household chemicals.
5. A new cartridge is being installed.
6. The flask is twisted manually, without the help of a key. The key is for unwinding only.
7. Water supply resumes. Do not forget to check how well the cleaning system works after the replacement.

Homemade charcoal filter

It is quite possible to make a water filter with your own hands. True, this will be the most primitive version of the cleaning device. It is made from a plastic bottle.

• Cut the bottom of the bottle.
• Prepare a container with a lid. For our purposes, a plastic bucket is quite suitable, in its lid you need to cut a hole that is similar in diameter to the neck of the bottle.
• Insert the bottle into the hole made. To ensure a tight connection, it is recommended to use a rubber seal.
• Put the filler in the bottle. For its manufacture, we mix charcoal, sand and gravel.
• To wash the smallest particles of coal, pass a few liters of water through our homemade filter.

To ensure the health and safety of your family, the use of water treatment systems is essential. Even the simplest carbon filters will protect you from many harmful organic and chemical compounds.