What is granular activated carbon used for?
Granular activated carbon (GAC) generally is an organic carbon filtration media — wood, coconut shells, coal or peat — used for water purification, typically applied in a fixed bed application.
A filter with GAC can remove certain chemicals, particularly organic contaminants, from water, as well as chemicals that produce odors or tastes to water such as hydrogen sulfide or chlorine. Granular activated carbon notably assists with the removal of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which have become an increasing contaminant of concern for regulators.
Other chemicals, specifically iron and nitrate, can not be removed with GAC. GAC should be changed based on contaminant levels and water use, as higher levels or use may require more frequent change-outs.
How do you make granular activated carbon?
According to EPA, GAC is a porous adsorption media with extremely high internal surface area, much like granular salt or granular sugar.
Granular activated carbon is made from raw organic materials that are high in carbon, such as coconut shells, coal, peat and wood. Heat is used to activate the surface area of the carbon, removing certain chemicals dissolved in water as they pass through a filter containing granular activated carbon. The GAC adsorbs the chemical due to its porous qualities.
The adsorption occurs on the internal surface of activated carbon. During adsorption, liquids or gases pass through the porous structure of the activated carbon, diffusing the compounds to be removed to the surface of the adsorbent, and are retained because of attractive forces.
History of GAC for water purification
GAC for water purification began around the start of the 20th century, according to WQA. In 1906 the activation process was applied to charcoal. The first application of activated carbon in the form of GAC was in the year 1910 in Reading, England, for dechlorination of chlorinated water.
GAC for dechlorination purposes is no longer feasible or used because of the formation of additional haloforms and other chlorine compounds within the filters, however.
The use of carbon in gas masks for the absorption of poisonous gases in the First World War paved the way for the development and large-scale production of GAC. After the First World War, Europe progressed in the manufacturing of activated carbons using new raw carbonaceous materials such as coconut and almond shells.
The first granular activated carbon filters were installed in Germany in 1929 and in the U.S. in 1930, targeting taste and odor issues.
Other notable GAC milestones in history include:
- The first major GAC filter for public water supply, which was installed in a Hopewell, Virginia, water treatment plant in 1961;
- And the first full-scale advanced tertiary wastewater treatment plant in South Lake Tahoe, California, which began incorporating GAC in its operations in 1965.
Types of GAC filter systems
There are two types of GAC filter systems: whole house filters also called point of entry filters or point of use filters.
Whole-House Filters or Point of Entry (POE):
A whole-house filter is installed at a point on a home's plumbing for water supply, and treats all water that travels to any faucet or fixture in the home. Whole-house filters are recommended for treatment of most volatile organic compounds (VOCs), pesticides, herbicides or chemicals.
Point of Use Filters (POU)
A point of use (POU) filter is installed in the water supply pipe just before the faucet where people get water and are commonly found under the sink.
Is GAC hazardous?
In water treatment GAC is not considered hazardous, nor does it create hazardous outcomes for the water when used properly. However, GAC used improperly or inhaled can be hazardous, as wet activated carbon in an enclosed space depletes oxygen.