What is a carbon filter?

In addition to selling activated carbon, ACES also produces carbon filters. To the question: “What is a carbon filter?” one can answer that it is a device filled with activated carbon, which is part of a larger installation, used to purify gases or liquids from unwanted substances.

Carbon filters are used in various industrial sectors. Filters for gas purification are made of carbon steel, stainless steel, or plastic (HDPE). On the other hand, the material from which pressure filters for liquids are made can be carbon steel or austenitic steel (AISI 304, 316L). The filter is made of many elements such as heads, a cylindrical section, a nozzle plate, hatches, nozzles, etc. All our filters are produced in accordance with applicable European standards.

 

Carbon filters - applications

Sorbofil® carbon filters are an essential solution in many industrial sectors due to their unique adsorption properties.

Main applications:

  • Biogas purification: Removal of impurities, including hydrogen sulfide and siloxanes.
  • VOC removal: Effective elimination of volatile organic compounds in various industrial processes.
  • Water treatment: Removal of chlorine, organic compounds, and other contaminants.
  • Wastewater and process liquid purification: Efficient removal of mechanical and chemical contaminants.
  • Flue gas filtration: Reduction of harmful gas emissions and air pollution.
  • Deodorization: Neutralization of unpleasant odors in various industrial processes.
  • Ammonia removal: Effective elimination of ammonia from the air.
  • Liquid decolorization: Removal of dyes and color contaminants from industrial liquids.

Sorbofil® carbon filters ensure cleanliness, safety, and high quality in industrial processes. Contact us to learn more about our solutions tailored to the specific needs of your industry.

 

How does a carbon filter work?

The operation of a carbon filter involves directing the liquid or gas to be purified from unwanted substances through the filter. The medium flowing through the filter encounters a bed of activated carbon. The contact between the contaminants in the gas or liquid and the activated carbon causes adsorption to occur. As a result, the medium is purified of unwanted compounds, meeting quality requirements and ready for its intended use.

Another question that often arises is "what does activated carbon in the filter do?" Properly selected activated carbon allows for the adsorption of unwanted impurities in the installation. As a result, the gas or liquid is purified to the required quality and/or emissions are reduced behind the filter. Activated carbon is selected depending on the type of contaminants present in the medium being purified.

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What are the types of carbon filters?

The simplest classification of carbon filters includes devices designed for liquid purification and gas impurity removal. They differ in construction, applied solutions, and technical parameters. The range of activated carbon filters also includes devices for purification in aggressive environments.
 

Among the carbon filters for gas purification, there are:

  • Sorbofil® GB - enables purification of gases with high flow rates at relatively low pressure drops.

  • Sorbofil® GPE - made of HDPE plastic for use in applications with increased corrosion risk.

  • Sorbofil® GS - used to remove organic and some inorganic contaminants from air and other gases.

 

We also offer carbon filters of the FERROTEX type for drinking water treatment and Sorbotech® GPE-KO (plastic) and Sorbotech® GS-KO (stainless steel) filter chimneys for neutralizing unpleasant odors.

 

How to choose the right carbon filter?

The type of carbon filter will depend on the size of the gas or liquid flow and the amount of contaminants. A client with an installation with a higher medium flow rate (for example, 20,000 m3/h) will need a larger filter than a client with a smaller flow rate (e.g. 200 m3/h).

Given the wide range of ACES products, many possible solutions can be applied. Below we present a few sample proposals for selecting a specific bed and its dedicated activated carbon filter.

Biogas purification

  • from hydrogen sulfide - Sorbotech® GERS carbon in Sorbofil® GPE filter +120 mbar

  • from siloxanes - Sorbotech® GE (or GG) carbon in Sorbofil® GPE filter +120 mbar

Deodorization

  • Sorbotech® GERS (or GERA) carbon in Sorbofil® GPE filter +40 mbar

VOC removal

  • Sorbotech® GE (or GG) carbon in Sorbofil® GS or GB filter (smaller and larger filter variant).


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How to replace activated carbon in the filter?

Searching for the phrases “activated carbon filter” or “activated carbon” may lead you to articles on replacing the bed in the installation. The procedure for replacing the old activated carbon in the filter with new one will differ depending on the type of filter.

Regardless of the industry, the carbon bed must be periodically replaced with fresh carbon. To ensure the process goes quickly and smoothly, we encourage you to use ACES’s service services performed by qualified specialists.

The service life of activated carbon depends on the amount and type of contaminants directed to the filter, such as VOCs, H2S, siloxanes, etc. Additionally, the lifespan of the carbon is influenced by humidity, temperature, and dust levels in the air. The saturation of the carbon bed should be monitored by measuring the concentration of contaminants at the filter outlet. Carbon replacement services are performed through the top and side service hatches (depending on the type and model of the carbon filter).

The carbon from the filters can be removed manually or using mechanical devices, such as an industrial vacuum cleaner. After emptying the filter, the drainage bottom should also be cleaned. Fresh activated carbon is poured through the top service hatch from 20 kg bags or directly from a big bag. After filling the filter, the top service hatch is closed, and the filter is ready for operation. In the case of air filtration, the filter can be started immediately after filling with activated carbon.

 

Activated carbon filtration - ACES

We encourage you to use the special form on our website, which will help select the right carbon filter. ACES advisors will review the specifics of your installation and propose the best possible solution. They will also tell you more about the applications of the carbon filter. If you have further questions, you can contact us by phone at 58 622 63 50 or by sending an email to aces@aces.pl. Example implementations of activated carbon filtration by ACES can be found in the dedicated section.

 

Carbon filters for air and gas purification
Carbon Filters for Air Purification What are our carbon filters used for? The source of nuisance odors is both natural processes occurring in nature and those related to human activities. Carbon... read more 
Water purification filters
Filtration deposits, such as dried filtration sands, Hydro-Anthracite and mass, are used by every water treatment station. They constitute the filter filling and are used, among others, in removal of iron compounds and manganese. read more 
Filter selection
The selection of the carbon filter at this stage is illustrative. Please fill in the contact form. You will be contacted by our advisor who will provide details of our offer related to carbon filters and activated carbon. read more 

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