Filtered water is most commonly filtered through a process called adsorption, primarily using carbon filters, to remove impurities.
Here's a more detailed breakdown:
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Adsorption Process: This involves contaminants sticking to the surface of the filter material.
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Carbon's Role: Activated carbon is a highly effective filter material due to its incredibly large surface area. This surface area is riddled with tiny pores and crevices, providing countless spots where impurities can get trapped.
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How it Works:
- Water passes through the carbon filter.
- As the water flows, chemical impurities, such as chlorine, organic compounds, and sediment, are attracted to the carbon surface.
- These impurities become trapped, or adsorbed, within the pores of the carbon.
- The result is cleaner, filtered water exiting the filter.
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Other Filtration Methods: While carbon filtration is common, other methods exist:
- Mechanical Filtration: Using physical barriers (like screens or membranes) to trap particles based on size. Sediment filters are an example of this.
- Reverse Osmosis: A membrane filtration method that uses pressure to force water molecules through a semipermeable membrane, leaving contaminants behind.
- UV Disinfection: Using ultraviolet light to kill bacteria and viruses. This doesn't remove particles, but it disinfects the water.
In summary, filtered water typically undergoes adsorption using carbon filters, where contaminants adhere to the porous surface of the carbon, effectively removing impurities and improving water quality. Other methods like mechanical filtration, reverse osmosis, and UV disinfection can also be employed, often in combination with carbon filtration.
