Activated carbon air filters consist of a vast system of pores of molecular size. These pores are highly adsorbent, forming a strong chemical bond/attraction to odorous, gaseous, and liquid contaminates, especially organic chemicals/compounds.
Activated Carbon Filter Facts and Studies
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Activated carbon air filters trap odors and chemicals in highly absorbent granules (or pores), which look like a hard scrub brush.
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Activated carbon is a charcoal that is treated with oxygen in order to open up millions of tiny pores between the carbon atoms, resulting in a highly adsorbent material.
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Originally used in World War II to protect U.S. soldiers from chemical warfare agents.
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In a study commissioned by the U.S. Dept. of Energy, activated carbon filters were found to removed 60-70% of airborne ozone compared to filters without activated carbon.
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Another study commissioned by the U.S. Dept. of Energy found that activated carbon filters removed harmful VOC’s (Volatile Organic Compounds) by 60-80%, and formaldehyde by 25-30%.
- According to a report released by the Centers of Disease Control, Dept. of Health and Human Services, and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, activated carbon is an excellent adsorber/absorber of most organic chemicals.
Chemicals that Activated Carbon Filtration is Effective at Removing:
| Acetaldehyde | Cyclohexanol | Hydrogen fluoride | Paint & redecorating odors |
| Acetic Acid | Cyclohexanol | Hydrogen iodide | Palmitic Acid |
| Acetic anhydride | Cyclohexene | Hydrogen selenide | Paradichlorbenzine |
| Acetone | Decane | Hydrogen sulfide | Pantane |
| Dibromoethane | Incensen | Pentanone | |
| Acrolem | Dichlorobenzene | Indole | Pentylene |
| Acrylic Acid | Dichlorodifluoromethane | Iodine | Pentyne |
| Acrylonitrile | Dichloroethane | Iodoform | Perchloroethylene |
| Alcoholic Beverages | Dichloroethylene | Irritants | Perfumes, cosmetics |
| Amines | Dichloroethyl | Isophorone | Phenol |
| Ammonia | Dichloromonofluormethane | Isoprene | Phosgene |
| Ameyl acetate | Dichloronitroethane | Isopropyl acetate | Pitch |
| Amyl alcohol | Dichloroprpane | Isopropyl alcohol | Poison gases |
| Amyl ether | Dichlorotetrafluoroethane | Isopropyl ether | Pollen |
| Aniline | Diesel fumes | Kerosene | Poultry odors |
| Asphalt fumes | Diethylamine | Kitchen odors | Propane |
| Automobile Exhaust | Diethyl ketone | Lactic acid | Propionaldehyde |
| Benzene | Dimethylaniline | Dimethylsulfate | Propionic acid |
| Body odors | Dimethylsulfate | Menthol | Propyl acetate |
| Borane | Dioxane | Mercaptans | Propyl alcohol |
| Bromine | Diproyl ketone | Methil acetate | Propyl chloride |
| Burned Flesh | Ether | Menthyl acrylate | Propyl ether |
| Burned Food | Ethyl acetate | Methyl alcohol | Propyl mercaptan |
| Butadiene | Ethyl acrylate | Methyl bromide | Methyl bromide |
| Butane | Ethyl alcohol | Methyl butyl ketone | Propylene |
| Butanone | Ethyl amine | Methyl cellosolve | Propyne |
| Butyl acetate | Ethyl benzene | Methyl cellosolve acetate | Putrefying substances |
| Butyl alcohol | Ethyl bromide | Methyl chloride | Putrescine |
| Butyl cellosolve | Ethyl chloride | Methyl chloroform | Pyridine |
| Butyl chloride | Ethyl ether | Methyl ether | Resins |
| Butyl ether | Ethyl formate | Methyl ethyl ketone | Rubber |
| Butylene | Ethyl mercaptan | Methyl formate | Sauerkraut |
| Butyne | Ethyl silicate | Methyl isobutyl ketone | Sewer odors |
| Butyraldehyde | Ethylene chlorhydrin | Methyl mercaptan | Skalote |
| Butyric acid | Ethylene dichloride | Methylcyclohexane | Slaughtering odors |
| Camphor | Ethylene oxide | Methylcyclohexanol | Smog |
| Caprylic acid | Essential oils | Methylcyclohexaone | Sour milks |
| Carbolic acid | Eucalyptole | Methylene chloride | Stoddard solvent |
| Carbon disulfide | Fertilizer | Monochlorobenzene | Styrene monomer |
| Carbon dioxide | Film processing odors | Monofluorotri cloromethane | Sulfur dioxide |
| Carbon tetrachloride | Fish odors | Naphtha | Sulfur trioxide |
| Cellosolve | Floral scents | Naphthziene | Sulfuric acid |
| Cellosolve acetate | Fluorotrichloromethane | Nitric acid | Tetrachloroethane |
| Cheese | Formaldehyde | Nitro benzenes | Tetrachloroethylene |
| Chlorine | Formic acid | Nitroethane | Tobacco smoke odor |
| Chlorobenzene | Gangrene | Nitrogen dioxide | Toilet odors |
| Chlorobutadiene | Garlic | Nitroglycerine | Toluene |
| Chloroform | Gasoline | Nitromethane | Toluidine |
| Chloronitropropane | Heptane | Nitropropane | Trichlorethylene |
| Chloropicrin | Heptylene | Nitrotoluene | Trichloroethane |
| Citrus and other fruits | Hexane | Nonane | Turpentine |
| Cleaning compounds | Hexylene | Octalene | Urea |
| Coal smoke | Hexyne | Octane | Uric acid |
| Creosote | Organic Chemicals | Onions | Valeric acid |
| Cresol | Hydrogen bromide | Varnish fumes | Valericaldehyde |
| Crotonaldehyde | Hydrogen chloride | Ozone | Xylene |
| Cychlohexane | Hydrogen cyanide | Packing house odors |