Granular activated carbon is a very effective adsorbent. Adsorption is the process of binding molecules to a surface. In the case of granular activated carbon, organic compounds are bound to the surface of the carbon particles.
This process occurs because the organic compounds are attracted to the surface of the carbon particles. The more attractive the compound, the more likely it is to be adsorbed. Granular activated carbon has a very large surface area and is therefore very effective at adsorbing organic compounds.
Granular activated carbon is a powerful tool for water treatment. It is often used in filters to remove impurities from water, and it can also be used to adsorb organic compounds from the water.
Granular activated carbon works by adsorbing contaminants onto its surface.
The large surface area of the granules provides a lot of space for the contaminants to bind to. The binding is strong enough that it can remove most contaminants from water.
One of the benefits of using granular activated carbon is that it can be reused after it has been used to filter water.
The carbon can be cleaned and Regenerated so that it can be used again. This makes it a very cost-effective way to purify water.
What is Granular Activated Carbon Adsorption?
Granular activated carbon adsorption is a water treatment process that uses granular activated carbon to remove impurities from water. This process is commonly used to treat drinking water and wastewater. Granular activated carbon (GAC) is a type of charcoal that has been treated with oxygen to open up its pores.
This makes it more efficient at adsorbing impurities than regular charcoal. When GAC is used for water treatment, it can remove a wide range of impurities, including chlorine, chemicals, dissolved organic matter, and bacteria.
Does Granular Activated Carbon Remove Nitrates?
Granular activated carbon (GAC) is a powerful tool for removing dissolved contaminants from water. It is commonly used in municipal water treatment facilities to remove organic compounds, chlorination by-products, and taste and odor compounds from drinking water. GAC can also be used in private homes to improve the quality of well water.
One of the benefits of using GAC is that it can remove a wide range of dissolved contaminants, including nitrates. Nitrates are common pollutants found in both surface water and groundwater. They can come from a variety of sources, including agricultural runoff, septic systems, and sewage treatment plants.
Nitrates can pose a serious health risk if they contaminate drinking water supplies, as they can be easily absorbed through the skin or inhaled when showering or bathing.
While GAC will not completely eliminate all nitrates from your water supply, it will significantly reduce their concentration. For this reason, GAC is an excellent option for those who are concerned about nitrate contamination in their drinking water.
What is the Difference between Granular Activated Carbon And Carbon Block?
There are two main types of activated carbon filtration systems – granular activated carbon (GAC) and carbon block. Here’s a brief overview of each type to help you decide which is best for your home or business:
Granular Activated Carbon
Granular activated carbon (GAC) filters consist of a bed of GAC particles, through which water is passed. As water flows through the GAC bed, contaminants are adsorbed onto the surface of the GAC particles.
Benefits:
– The large surface area of GAC particles makes them very effective at adsorbing a wide range of contaminants, including organic compounds, chlorine, and VOCs.
– GAC filters can be used in a wide range of applications, including whole-house filtration and point-of-use filtration.
Drawbacks:
– Because GAC filters rely on a physical barrier to remove contaminants, they are not effective at removing dissolved minerals or viruses.
– If not properly maintained, GAC filters can become breeding grounds for bacteria. Regular replacement or regeneration of filter media is essential to prevent this from happening.
Carbon Block Filters
carbon block filters work by passing water through a tightly packed block of carbon particles. As water flows through the carbon block, contaminants are adsorbed onto the surface of the carbon particles.
Because carbon block filters have such a high density of carbon particles, they are extremely effective at removing a wide range of contaminants, including dissolved minerals, VOCs, and chlorine.
How Does Activated Carbon Work Chemically?
Activated carbon is a powerful adsorbent that is used to remove contaminants from water. But how does it work?
When activated carbon is added to water, the water molecules surround the carbon particles and form a physical bond.
This process is called adsorption. The contaminants are drawn to the surface of the carbon particles and bind to them. This binding process removes the contaminants from the water, making it safe to drink.
The size of the pores in activated carbon plays a big role in its adsorptive power. The smaller the pores, the more surface area there is for adsorption to occur. Activated carbons with smaller pores are more effective at removing small contaminants like chemicals and bacteria.

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Granular Activated Carbon Filtration
Granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration is a type of adsorption process that removes organic compounds and chlorine from water. The GAC filter consists of a bed of GAC media through which water is passed. As the water passes through the media, the organic compounds and chlorine are adsorbed onto the surface of the GAC particles.
The GAC filter is an effective method for removing a wide range of contaminants from water, including pesticides, herbicides, VOCs, THMs, trihalomethanes), chloroform, chloramine, and MTBE. It can also remove taste and odor-causing compounds such as hydrogen sulfide and mercaptans.
To maintain optimal performance, it is important to regularly backwash the GAC filter to remove any accumulated contaminants.
In addition, the GAC media will eventually reach its saturation point and will need to be replaced.
Conclusion
Granular activated carbon is a type of charcoal that is treated with oxygen to open up millions of tiny pores between the carbon atoms. This increases the surface area of the carbon, which allows it to adsorb more contaminants from water or air passing through it.
The most common use for granular activated carbon is in water filtration systems, where it can remove impurities like chlorine, bacteria, and pesticides from tap water.
It is also used in air purifiers to remove pollutants such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and smoke particles.