Activated Carbon Norwegian version carbon specifications sizing a carbon filter Activated carbon is used for the removal of dissolved components from, freshwater waste water and marine systems. The size of an activated carbon filter depends on the waste water to be treated, generally speaking the slower the water flowrate the more effective the processes. For example if there was a bed volume of 1 cubic meter of activated carbon, the optimum flowrate would be 4 cubic metres of water per hour. This is a slow flowrate and relates to the use of carbon in the removal of dissolved Organics such as humic acids from water.
Some chemicals are much easier to remove, such as ozone or chlorine.
The flowrate also relates to the performance and life of the activated carbon, again if the water flowrate is high, utilization of the bed will not be as good. Under these conditions it is always best to use two filters in series. The quality of the water is monitored between the filters. When break-through is measured after the first filter, this filter is taken out of line, the carbon is replaced, and the filter placed back in line at position 2 after the what was previously the second filter. This arrangement maximizes the utilization of the the carbon.