The Carbon Air Filter uses Absorption

Carbon Air Filter - Many contaminants you will find in indoor air pollution are present in the form of gases and vapors. These contaminants normally pass through most filters and therefore require alternative procedures. The process of physical and chemical absorption has found wide application. Activated charcoal is an example of a medium that uses physical absorption. As a result carbon has become the most popular medium for a variety of indoor environments.

Activated carbon is very efficient in removing Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) from air and other gases. These compounds can often be removed to below the detection limit. The technology is reliable, simple and has been proven over many years.

Protection against toxic gases is one of the oldest applications of granular activated carbon. When chlorine and phosgene were used in World War I as military gases, masks and respirators containing carbon were developed to counter this threat.

Advantages: Highly effective with chemicals, gases, smoke, and odors.
Disadvantages: Not effective with allergens and micro organisms. Air must pass through the filter to be cleaned.

Inefficient Substitutions
Be careful, however in choosing your carbon filter as most air filters on the market use an inferior product consisting of carbon fiber pads impregnated with activated carbon dust. The performance of these units is not as good. Many companies use zeolite as a substitute for good quality activated carbon. It is not as effective.

Many other filtration systems include this type of media to pre-filter air before it passes through the main unit. For example, often a carbon air filter is combined with a HEPA filter as a pre-filter to protect and enhance the performance of the HEPA. This results in a more efficient filter

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