How to make a water filter

Why would you want to make a water filter? Well, some people just love to do things on their own and want to create a basic water filter because it is an interesting project for them. Others may want to make a water filter to fill an immediate need - perhaps they are camping out in the wilderness and the only muddy water is available. Whatever your reason for wanting to make a water filter, here is how you can do it. Keep in mind that this hand-made filter is only good for clearing out mud and other visible particles in the water. It does not effectively remove bacteria or other contaminants that may be present. You will need the following materials for making a water filter. * A container. This could be, for example, a bottle of two to three liters capacity. If that is not available and you have to make do with what nature provides, how about using the bark of a tree? Craft the bark into a cone with a small hole at the end and tie it so that it retains its conical shape. You now have an adequate container for the filter. * Activated charcoal. This may not always be readily available, but if it is, it adds significantly to the filter's capabilities. * Coarse sand and fine sand (separate - not mixed together). * Coarse gravel and fine gravel (separately). * Cotton. Alternatively, you can make do with pebbles. The water filter will function with the bottle in inverted position. Cut off the bottom of the bottle. This is where you will pour the water in, once the water filter is done. Block the pour spout of the bottle (which is now at the bottom) with cotton. This is to prevent the filtering materials from falling out of the bottle. If cotton is not available, use a couple of inches of pebbles for this purpose. Right above the cotton, put in about an inch of fine sand. On top of the sand, place a layer of activated charcoal. Follow that up with layers of coarse sand, fine gravel and coarse gravel in order from bottom to top. Your water filter is ready for use. Pour water into the top end of the filter and collect the filtered water at the bottom into another container. The filtered water may be clear in appearance, but this very basic water filter will not remove many potentially dangerous contaminants. To make potable water, you need to further purify it. Use the above outline of how to make a water filter to get clear water when you need it.

How do water filters work and what should you take into consideration when buying one?
Despite the water being treated, most water supply systems are quite contaminated with microbes as well as many different pollutants. Therefore, it is necessary to filter and purify the water to make it safe for consumption. In this context, many people ask themselves the question, how do water filters work?

Knowledge of how filters work is necessary if we are to be able to select an appropriate water filter system for our homes. To answer the question how do water filters work, it is also necessary to be aware of the kind of pollutants that are present in city water supplies. Chlorine is the most commonly used disinfectant in water supply systems. It is true that chlorine does disinfect water to a certain extent. However, it does not remove all bacterial and viral contaminants. For this reason, the water that comes out of our taps is not really sterile, though we usually believe it to be so. Adding to this problem, chlorine itself is a dangerous substance. It can damage body organs and processes if it is consumed along with water over the long term. Chlorine is also absorbed into the body through pores in the skin when we take a shower or bath. Heated bath or shower water produces chlorine vapors that can aggravate asthma and cause respiratory problems. Chemical pollution exists in water because of agricultural and industrial activities. This is an ongoing problem. In addition, natural sediments can also seep into the water supply. So how do water filters work to guard against these pollutants? All filters are based on separating water from the substances / organisms that pollute it. However, all filters are not made equal. Some are more effective at removing particulate matter but not dissolved chemicals, while others don't do a good job of eliminating disease causing bacteria. Carbon filters are among the more commonly used filters. They do their work by absorbing polluting substances (these substances form a chemical bond with the carbon and are hence removed from water) and filtering out larger particulate matter present in water. Reverse osmosis is another process where the water is sent through a special membrane which does not allow pollutants through to the other side. Some water filter systems make use of distillation - water is heated to create vapor which is then condensed back into pure water. This process gets rid of chemical pollutants and other substances. Keep in mind that every filtration system has its limitations and strengths. Therefore, it stands to reason that the best water filters are those that use more than one type of filtration. A multi-stage filtration process can eliminate a lot more pollutants than a single type of filter ever can. Unfortunately, it is known that some filters remove not only the contaminants, but also essential minerals like calcium and magnesium. Both reverse osmosis and distillation can do this. The problem is that our bodies need these minerals to be present in trace amounts in water. Long term consumption of demineralized water can lead to serious health issues. So this is another issue to watch out for. That should give you a broad answer to the question "how do water filters work". Knowing what to look for will help you choose a water filter system that is right for you and your family.

How to make a water filter

Knowing how to make a water filter is important, if the only water you can find is dirty muddy water. There are a number of different ways to make a water filter. One simple way is to use sand. Sand is nature's way of

purifying water. Simple sand water filter 1. To start with, you need a container. If you can find a large, empty can, use it. Punch 5-10 holes in the bottom of the can. A large plastic bottle is also fine. Cut the end of the bottle off evenly. If there is no container available, you have to use what material that nature can provide, or that you brought with you. If you find a birch tree, make a cone of birch bark. The cone will need to have a fairly small hole in the bottom. Tie the cone with rope to keep it from opening up. 2. First, you need to stop the sand to get out of the container. Find some filter material you can place at the bottom. For instance: a couple of inches (centimeters) of pebbles. a grass mesh, make sure its nonpoisonous grass. or cotton material. 3. Add a layer of gravel. The main purpose of the gravel layer is to strengthen the filter material and prevent sand mixed with the water you get from the filter. 4. Fill your bottle or cone with sand. 5. Collect some water. Pour your collected water through the filter. Catch it in another container at the bottom. Look at the water that comes out of the filter. It should be clear. If not, you may have to pass the water through the filter more than once. Safe water Now you know how to make a water filter, but to get safe water to drink, you also have to purify your water. The water may still contain harmful bacteria that your filter did not remove. To improve your water filter, add a layer of charcoal between the gravel and sand layer. Get charcoal from your fire, crush it, not to powder but just fine gravel size.

How to make a water filter step 1

bowl plastic wrap rubber bands rock water salt small jar

step 2Finish the construction

next put the plastic wrap on the top a little loose and put the rubber band on the edges. then put the rock in the middle above the glass.

step 3Wait
wait as long as you want, set it directly in sunlight ,just observe what happens after about a half hour, the the water starts to collect on the top. when you want, open it and taste the water. enjoy!
How does water get filtered?
When we visited different water companies, we heard a lot about water filtration. Groundwater is naturally filtered through layers of dirt, stone, gravel, and sand. When the water travels through these layers, it is cleaned. This is one of the reasons that many people think that groundwater is very clean. Water companies filter the water in this way, too. Water is sent through the same kind of layers before it is sent out to the towns that buy it. We decided to test the idea by creating our own water filter. You can try this, too!

Making a water filter Supplies

A clear plastic bottle 1/2 cup dirt 2 cups sand 2 cups gravel glass of water spoon

Step 1: Cut the bottom off of the bottle about two inches from the
bottom. This part can be dangerous, so it is a good idea to get help from an adult for this part. Leave the cap on it.

Step 2: Turn the bottle upside down so that you can pour the gravel
in it. It works best if you put larger gravel in first because it plugs up the hole that is capped.

Step 3: Pour the sand over the gravel. It will fall through the gaps in
the gravel.

Step 4: Mix the dirt in the water.

Step 5: Pour the dirty water on top of the sand in the bottle.

Step 6: Carefully take off the bottle cap and put the bottle spout
into a tall glass or some container that can hold your filter upright. Watch the water seep through the sand and gravel. In the picture to the right, you can see the layers get darker as the water flows down through them. Click on the picture to make it bigger and easier to see.

Step 7: Check out that water! The layers of sand and gravel should take out the dirt in the water.

How to Make Water Filter for Removing Chloramine and other impurities

By: Joe Hing Kwok Chu

Material needed: 1. Water tank with outlet 2. Clean sand

3. Activated catalytic carbon 4. Coconut fiber (from coconut husk)

Place fiber on the bottom of tank. Place carbon on top of fiber. Add another layer of fiber on top of carbon Place sand on top. These layers can be repeated 2 or 3 times.

The material can be replaced after the filter has become dirty.

How This Water Filter Works The coconut fiber possesses the best fungus inhibiting effect of natural fiber known. The fiber laid at the bottom of the water tank helps holding the activated carbon to stay in the tank and also help filter out some larger solid pieces of impurities in the water. The better activated carbon is made from coconut shells and are not chemical activated like wood charcoal or coal; therefore it is suitable for filtering drinkin g water. Activated carbon is full of pores. This network of connected pores inside the carbon creates a large surface area, about 1000 square meter per gram of carbon. Activated carbon filters out impurities from the water by transferring the impurities from the water to the surface of the carbon. Activated carbon acts as a catalyst in chemical reaction in removing chloramine. The transferring impurities involves 2 methods: 1. Physical absorption, and 2. Chemical absorption (chemi-sorption)

The physical absorption is the gravitational force and magnetic force that pull the impurities to the pores of the activated carbon granules.

The oxidation-reduction (redox) and chemical absorption occur on the surface of the activation carbon while the physical abso rption occurs in the pores of the activated carbon. The redox and chemical absorption actually change the chemicals into new chemicals. For example, the chlorine is change into chloride and the chloramine is degraded by the reaction of oxidation chemistries on the surface activated carbon.

Chloramines removal by activated carbon

Chlorine has been traditionally used as a disinfectant in municipal water systems to control bacteria, viruses and other microorganisms.

In 1979, the EPA enacted the Disinfection By -Products Rules as part of the Clean Water Act. These rules set lower limits on the by-products formed when free chlorine reacts with the organics in a water source. These reacted chlorinated compounds are called trihalomethanes (THMs) and haloacidic acids (HAAs). The primary chlorinated by-product is chloroform, which is a known cancer -causing compound. The stricter limits on chlorine by-products have forced municipalities to find alternative disinfectants. In the near future many more municipalities will be converting from chlorine to chloramines. Businesses requiring high purity water should be aware of the treatment methods, equipment and costs of removing chloramines from their municipal water supply. A better alternative, but... Chloramines have become a suitable alternative for several reasons: y y Chloramines form only minimal amounts of THMs or HAAs when in contact with organics. Chloramines offer advantages as a more stable disinfectant and better resistance to bacterial re-growth.

These are important characteristics in keeping disinfectant residuals in a large distribution system. However, while chloramine residuals are important in keeping potable water safe, many industrial and medical processes require very pure water and chloramines can cause problems in these situations. Chloramines contribute to the overall total dissolved solids (TDS). They are selectively reactive and have negative effects on many industrial processes. Chloramines can foul cation exchange resin in demineralized water systems used in power generation and chemical manufacturing. In addition, they can interfere with cooling and boiler water chemistries, resulting in corrosion. In kidney dialysis, relatively large volumes of water come in contact with blood across a permeable membrane. Chloramines or any other disinfectant would prove toxic to the patient. A removal solution A cost effective technology to degrade and remove chloramines from potable water is activated carbon filtration. Activated carbon removes impurities by transferring the impurity from a liquid phase (water) to the solid phase (carbon). There are two methods of transfer: y y Physical adsorption; and Chemi-sorption.

Carbons also have reduction-oxidation (redox) functionality and act as catalysts to enhance certain chemical reactions. This catalytic functionality is a necessary ingredient in the removal of chloramines by activated carbon. Physical adsorption Physical adsorption holds impurities within the pores of the carbon particle by weak van de Waals forces called London Dispersion Forces. London Forces are similar to gravitational and magnetic forces that pull and trap the impurities on the carbon pore. Adsorption is the primary method for removing trace amount of organic impurities. Chemi-sorption

Redox and other chemi-sorption reactions occur on the surface of the activated carbon. Unlike physical adsorption, redox and chemi-sorption change the impuritys chemical structure. For example, the result of chemi-sorption on chlorine is its reduction to chloride. Chloramines are degraded by a combination of redox and chemi -sorption reactions with the activated carbons surface oxides chemistries. Generating activated carbon To produce activated carbon, raw materials such as bituminous coal, lignite, coconut shell or wood are heated to temperatures of 600-650Celcius. This removes volatile organics from the raw material, leaving an intermediate carbon product with little porosity. The intermediate is then reacted with steam at a temperature of 800-1100Celcius. The high temperature burns off part of the carbon structure and reorders the carbon atoms in a graphitic form. Steam enhances the development of the graphitic pore structure and forms very reactive oxides on the external surface of the carbon particle. The surface oxides are divided into acidic and basic groups. Acidic surface oxides enable steam activated carbons to remove chlorine and chloramines and include the carbonyl, carboxyl, phenol and benzoquinone groups. These surface oxides degrade and remove chloramines by the following reactions: NH2Cl + H2O + GAC > NH3 + HCl 2NH2Cl + GAC > N2 + 2HCl + H 2O The removal process Chlorine removal and chloramine degradation are chemical reactions with acidic surface oxides. The reaction mechanism involves surface attraction, followed by reduction -oxidation. Redox reactions involve the transfer of electrons from one atom to another. In the case of chlorine removal, chlorine is held on the carbon in the form of hypochlorous acid. Hypochlorous acid degrades in the presence of surface oxides on the carbon to form hydrochloric acid and carbon dioxide. Degradation of chloramines to chloride and ammonia is very similar, only slower. These redox reactions are external surface area dependent. To increase the reaction rate, surface area can be enlarged by a smaller mesh particle size, more irregular particle shape or larger carbon bed volume. The rate of this reaction can also be increased with surface enhanced or catalytic carbons. Making the right choice There is much confusion on choosing the proper activated carbon for chloramines degradation and removal. Below are the main factors to consider: 1. The empty bed contact time using a general-purpose carbon should be at least 15 minutes (2 gpm per cubic foot) and the superficial flow rate should not exceed 2 gpm per square foot. The empty bed contact time (EBCT) measures contact between carbon particles and water as the water flows through the vessel. Fifteen minutes is the minimum EBCT required to maximize the carbon capability to remove chloramines. EBCT is calculated from the following: EBCT = Volume of Activated Carbon in the Vessel

Flow Rate of the Water For this equation to result in minutes, the flow rate typically expressed in gallons per minute (gpm) must be converted to units such as cubic feet/ minutes (ft3/min). The conversion is 1gpm = .13368 ft3/min. Below is an example calculation of EBCT: Carbon vessel: 10 cubic feet Flow rate: 8 gpm EBCT = 10 ft3 =18.7 minutes 4 gpm x .13368

2. If pressure drop across the vessel is not a limiting factor, use a finer mesh, change from an 8 x 30 to 12 x 40 or from a 12 x 40 to 20 x 50. Consider upflow operation of the vessels instead of downflow to enable smaller mesh size. The activated carbons internal pore structure has only a minimal effect on chlorine removal or chloramine degradation. Chloramines are larger molecules and their degradation on activated carbon is slow. Activated carbons with a slightly larger pore size distribution are best for this application because chloramines are held on the carbon surface for a longer period of time, compared to very microporous carbons. A coal-based carbon with a 900-iodine number would be the best suited and most economical. In treatment systems that have limited contact time, a catalytic carbon will provide effective chloramines degradation and removal. Surface reactivity The chemi-sorption potential or reactivity of the carbon surface is dependent on two factors: y y Oxygen content of the starting raw material Steam concentration during the activation process.

Raw materials with high oxygen contents would have greater surface reactivity. However, the activated carbons produced from these raw materials would be structurally weak, extremely dusty and could not withstand handling. Surfaced-enhanced activated carbon or catalytic carbon is also available. Catalytic carbons have been manufactured in environments that increase formation of surface oxides or have been impregnated with metal oxides. Enhancing the reduction -oxidation potential by surface treatments gives the activated carbon greater selectivity, capacity and reaction kinetics for chloramines degradation and removal. Catalytic carbon allows for smaller carbon volumes, smaller adsorption vessels and slightly greater removal capacity. Figure 1 is a comparison between catalytic and general-purpose carbon. Depending on the application and operating parameters, catalytic carbons can provide an effective and cost efficient choice for chloramine removal. Phil Adams is a technical representative with ResinTech Inc., West Berlin, NJ.

How to Make a Homemade Water Filter

The need for homemade water filters is growing with each year because people are starting to realize just how much are commercial filters over-priced. Thing is, our tap water is getting worse because of pollution that's getting more severe since governments don't seem to care too much about how safe our drinking water is. This is one of the cases where we need to take things in our own hands and make sure we take care of our health. For the longest time I've thought that there is only one alternative to tap water: bottled water. But as I've done more and more research on the safety of bottled water I've realized the regulations for it's safety simply aren't strict enough to make sure it really is safe. One of the things that really shocked me is that most companies in the States simply use tap water and put it in bottles. However there is another solution that we can use to make sure we drink safe, clean water. It's to use water filters that remove all the dangerous particles and bacteria from tap water. The only problem with commercial filters is that if you want to use the ones which sufficiently clear water you need to pay hundreds of dollars for them. I knew there has to be another way so I've decided I'll use a homemade filter and see if I can make a good enough filter myself. Indeed, after doing a lot of research I've managed to find a way to make a water filter which is strong enough to protect me from unsafe tap water. Which means that yes, unlike what companies want us to think, we can make filters that are just as strong if not even more at home. So let me show you how to make your own water filter that: is strong, keeps beneficial minerals and removes dangerous bacteria and hard metals from your water.

Homemade Drinking Water Filter

By Heidi Braley, eHow Contributor updated: September 11, 2009
Most of us wonder at some point in time what we would do if there was a catastrophe that forced us to filter our own water. The biggest cause for concern tends to be the bacteria content of unfiltered water. There are methods of almost eliminating the bacteria or at least substantially reducing the number of them in a serving of water. This is not meant to be used as a permanent filter unless you have the means of testing the results to be sure the bacteria has been removed.

Prepare the Clay

1. The challenge of this part of the process is to make a filter through which water molecules can pass, but
not bacteria. Clay on its own is too tight for water to pass through so a burnable substance needs to be added so the clay will be filled with small h oles through which water can pass after the clay has been baked and the substance burned out. Mix equal parts of wet clay and the burnable substance such as sawdust, coffee grounds, finely ground coconut or even finely crushed acorns. Whatever is available in your area, just make sure the particles are tiny.

Mold the Clay

2. Mold the wet clay into a bowl shape that can hold water but is wide at the top and narrow at the center
to channel the water down to a collection container. This is hard to do unless you are actually pressing the clay over a mold like a rock or bowl or pile of sand. Keep the sides about 1/2 inch thick at least.

Dry the Wet Clay

3. Set the molded clay in a sunny spot to dry for about 24 hours. You will not be able to remove it from the
mold until it is dry or it will just crumble. Once it is dry, it will still be rather fragile so handle it gently when moving it.

Bake the Dried Clay Mold

4. Remove the dried clay from the mold. Set the dried mold into a heated oven where it can cook away
until all the substance used to create holes is burned away into ash. The heat does not have to be much higher than the temperatures found in a fire or around 500 degrees to burn the substance to ash. This should be be done over a period of a couple of hours.

Run Water Through the Clay Filter

5. Pour some water into the filter and let it rinse out any remaining ash. The clay will now be a hard sponge
that the water will pass through, trapping the bacteria in the small spaces. Once the water runs clear, you can save the water for drinking.

Paint the Filter with Colloidal Silver

6. Colloidal silver is also used to trap bacteria and can be used to paint the filter for even better filtration.
These filters tend to clog up quickly if the water being filtered has a high turbi dity (or muddiness), and must be replaced. However, if the water is manually strained as through sand and then through this clay filter, the filter will have a longer usage. Read more: Homemade Drinking Water Filter | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/way_5372942_homemade -drinking-water-filter.html#ixzz153gp3Ned

Homemade Water Filters

By LeeAnn Bonds, eHow Contributor updated: September 29, 2010
Clean drinking water is a critical part of everyday life. If you don't have access to good water, you can filter whatever water you have available. Perhaps you want to be prepared for an emergency such as a hurricane that might contaminate your water, or maybe your water is safe to drink, but doesn't taste good or looks murky. A homemade water filter can help.

Making Muddy Water Clear

1. Filtering dirt from muddy water is simple. Make a sand water filter using a large container with holes in
the bottom. Put pebbles, grass or cotton in the bottom to prevent the sand from falling out, then fill with sand. Pour water through the sand and coll ect it underneath the container. Pathogens are not removed by this type of filter.

Filtering Out Bio-hazards

2. A filter that will remove bacteria and other biohazards can be made at home, but is a much more
elaborate project. The Church Mission Society provides complete instructions for constructing a biological water filter from clay pots, PVC pipe, sand and rocks. This design uses the "helpful zoology" naturally inhabiting the sand to remove bacteria. To make this type of filter completely from scratch, you can make your own clay pots, as described on the PlanetGreen website. The author claims that a filter made according to these instructions will remove 96.4 to 99.8 percent of E. Coli in the water.

Emergency Purification

3. If you are in an emergency situation and need to purify water for drinking, you might consider
disinfecting available water by boiling water for one minute, or adding bleach. Household bleach, at 5 percent available chlorine, will d isinfect water at 1/8 teaspoon per gallon. The water needs to go through a dirt-removing filter before chemical purification. Complete instructions for disinfecting drinking water can be found at the Environmental Protection Agency's website. Read more: Homemade Water Filters | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/facts_7173972 _homemade-waterfilters.html#ixzz153hUePPG

How to Make Homemade Water Filters

By mamajoe, eHow Member

I want to do this!
Make Homemade W ater Filters

User-Submitted Article

When making a homemade water filter, it is important to have the right materials readily available. A homemade water filter can easily and inexpensively be made, and it can help to serve your immediate clean water needs.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions
Things You'll Need:

y y y y y y y y

2 liter pop bottle Straw Sand- fine and large grain Gravel- fine and large grain Charcoal granules Cotton batting Coffee filter Cup

Cut the bottom off of the two liter bottle. Cut a hole in the lid and insert the straw into the hole so the filtered water will flow out of the straw. Insert the cotton batting at the bottom of the bottle. If you have charcoal granules, layer th ose next. The next layer is fine grain sand followed by larger grain sand. After the sand layers, add the gravel layers. Start with the fine grain gravel followed by the larger grain gravel. Alternate these layers until you reach the top of the bottle. Top the layers off with the coffee filter. Once you have everything in place, pour the water through the coffee filter. The water will work through the different layers to remove the impurities. The cotton batting at the bottom works as the final layer to catch particles from the sediment. The water will flow out of the straw and into the cup.
Read more: How to Make Homemade Water Filters | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_4880648_homemade -water-filters.html#ixzz153hgSxeb

How to Make a Home Carbon Water Filter

By Alexis Lawrence, eHow Contributor updated: June 17, 2010
I want to do this! Like any store-bought water-filtering system, a homemade carbon water filter removes many of the impurities from

tap water. By removing these impurities from your home's tap water, you make the water better for drinking and for watering plants. The filtering process limits exposure to metals and chemicals in the water, such as lead and chlorine which are unsafe to drink in , large quantities and can prove fatal to plants. Often, it also makes tap water taste better.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions
Things You'll Need:

y y y y y y y y y y y

2-liter bottle or 1 -gallon jug Utility knife Dish soap Straw Cotton batting Carbon powder Large-grain sand Fine-grain sand Large gravel Fine gravel Coffee filter

1. 1

Cut the bottom off a 2-liter bottle or 1-gallon jug with a utility knife. Keep the sides of the bottle or the jug as close to the same height as p ossible. This helps when filling the bottle or jug with the filtering ingredients.
2. 2

Take the cap off the bottle or jug. Wash the bottle or jug and the cap with dish soap and water to get rid of any residue in the container. Then, rinse and dry the contain er.
3. 3

Use a utility knife to make a hole in the cap of the bottle or jug. It may be easiest to make the straw hole by cutting a small "x" in the lid and then pushing the plastic inward toward the inside of the cap. Just make sure the straw fits without being constricted and without getting cut by the plastic.
4. 4

Trim a 2-inch piece of straw. Insert the straw into the hole you made for it in the bottle or jug's cap. Consummate Compendium recommends wrapping tape around the straw to make it fit tightly if the straw does not fit snugly in the hole.
5. 5

Layer cotton batting at the bottom of the filter container, which is actually the top of the two -liter bottle or gallon jug. Over that, layer -inch of carbon powder, -inch of fine grain sand, -inch

of large grain sand, -inch of fine gravel and up to two inches of large gravel. Then, continue layering in the same order until you reach the top opening of the bottle or jug.
6. 6

Top the layers of the homemade filter with a coffee filter. Make sure the spout is direc ted into another container and pour water into the top of the homemade filter to filter the water.
Read more: How to Make a Home Carbon Water Filter | eHow. com http://www.ehow.com/how_6637735_make -home-carbon-water-filter.html#ixzz153hy7wAp

How to Make A Water Filter

By kp1832000, eHow Member
Want to make a homemade water filter? Homemade water filters can work just as well as store bought water filtration systems. Here are a few tips on how to make a water filter.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions
Things You'll Need:

y y y y y y y y y

Two liter bottle Coffee filter Activated carbon (charcoal) Kitty litter Soil Hot glue Hot glue gun Scissors Shovel

1. 1

Gather all of the necessary materials together. Activated carbon (charcoal) can be purchased at your local pet store in the aquarium section. It comes in small pebbles and is used for water treatment in aquariums. You can get the soil from your backyard. Make sure to collect soil from at least 9 inches below the surface. This will increase the soils clay content. Clay is a great natural water purifier.
2. 2

Cut the bottom of a two liter bottle off with a pair of scissors. Make the cut about two inches below the bottom of the bottle to leave as much of the bottle intact as possible.
3. 3

Using a hot glue gun, glue a coffee filter so it covers the inside neck opening of the bottle. This will serve as the last level of filtration.
4. 4

Pour about three inches of charcoal pebbles into your two liter so it covers the coffee filter.
5. 5

Next, follow the charcoal with a 2 inch layer of kitty litter. Make sure you wash the kitty litter with water before placing it in the bottle.
6. 6

Cover the kitty litter with a two inch layer of soil and then add another 2 inches of charcoal to the top.
7. 7

Now simply pour water into the top of the filter and it will come out of the bottom of the bottle purified by your carbon filter.
Read more: How to Make A Water Filter | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_5518113_make -waterfilter.html#ixzz153iH9Dp6

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Homemade Water Filters

Two basic schemes are there that can be employed for constructing a home made water filter as from household items and from prefabricated items that are easily available from various online retailers. The different parts that are needed for constructing own home made water filters are relatively easy to accumulate. Different housing categories are acquired for configuring whole house as single, double and triple systems. The decision regarding which housing systems meets appropriately with your requirements depends upon the filtration needs. The whole process of ho use configuration includes stand, housing, diverter, spout and other fittings. Top Selling Water Filters Frigidaire PureSource2 Ice/Water Filtration System Braun Brita KWF2 Water Filter PUR DS-1800Z 2 Stage Water Dispenser Categories of Home made Water filters

Various commonly acquired home made water filters are described below: GAC, Granulated Activated Charcoal: - It is the most common variant of home made water filter that uses charcoal particles to form a network for attracting minute particles of pollutants, even solid contaminants like lead or arsenic from water and provides pure and clean water. Carbon Block Water Filters: - These filters come with higher pollutant exclusion ratio and remove all harmful and unwanted particulates from water along with fluoride and chloride. Silver ceramic water Filters: - These water filters are known for their quality performance and these are known to block al l harmful bacteria by avoiding the leakage of these pollutants into the supply of drinking water. Portable Home Made Water Filters: - These home made water filters are portable that can be easily manufactured from household items. These are made from a plastic bottle of 2 L with lid acting as housing for filtration equipment. Whole filtration system consists of batting of cot ton, large and fine grain gravel, coffee filter and sand. The technique of GAC can also be included in these water filters for expe riencing high performance. The filtered water obtained through these Water Filters can be captured in a jar or mug easily.

So go for Home made water filters if you are looking for a reasonably priced and enhanced performance.

Homemade Water
Facts About Boulders Drinking Water Homemade Water - Point-Of-Use Filters & Water Softeners
The City of Boulder's staff cannot recommend or endorse any brand of water purification or filtration equipment. Boulder's water is predominantly "first use" water, which i s water that has not been previously used for municipal, industrial or agricultural purposes. It is a high -quality water, generally having a low mineral content, making further treatment unnecessary for most people. The City of Boulder's water is tested routinely and meets the standards required by both the Safe Drinking Water Act and the Surface Water Treatment Rule. The information below is for consumers who want basic information about the types of water treatment units that are available. There are two basic types of home water purification/filtration systems. A point-of-entry device is attached where the water enters the household distribution system. A point-of-use device is placed on the specific tap sites being used. Usually, this is th e kitchen faucet. Point-of-entry filtration systems are generally very expensive and require professional installation. It is typically not necessary to treat all the water that enters the house, so most people choose the point-of-use filtration units. Poi nt-ofuse filtration units vary in price and effectiveness as well as general ease of installation. Consumers should research and compare at least two or three different types of units and manufacturers before buying a water purification or filtration syst em. The consumer also needs to determine what they want removed from the water. There are three common types of point-of-use units: y Sediment Filters remove larger particles from water, such as iron and rust, which may be dislodged during construction act ivities or anytime major pressure changes occur in the distribution system. The effectiveness of these filters depends on the size of the filter pores. Some filters can strain micron-sized particles which are about 1/1000 the thickness of a dime. The smaller the pore size, the more efficient it is for filtering particles out of the water. In some cases two filters may be needed: a coarse filter followed by a fine filter. Sediment filters are generally easy to install and inexpensive. Carbon Filters are excellent devices for removing organic by-products produced by the disinfection process (chlorination) and for improving the aesthetics of water. They can improve the taste and decrease the odors usually caused by organic materials. Carbon also removes chlorine and radon. Carbon is not as effective as reverse osmosis in removing microbial contaminants, sodium, nitrates, fluoride, hardness or heavy metals. Carbon filtration works by passing water through porous carbon. Carbon has a limited capacity. The "spent c arbon" filter has to be changed after a given number of gallons treated. Follow the manufacturers recommendation for care and maintenance of these units. Carbon filters are generally easy to install, often attaching to the kitchen faucet. Reverse Osmosis Filters are excellent at removing most constituents from water including heavy metals, microbes, nitrates, sodium, sulfates, hardness, chlorine and fluoride. When chlorine is removed, the disinfection properties are also removed and when these devices are not in use for a long period of time, these filters can grow bacteria. Reverse osmosis filters are not as effective in removing organics as carbon filters, so unpleasant tastes and odors may persist. Reverse osmosis filters work by passing pressurized water through a semi-permeable membrane. The water molecules penetrate the membrane and are collected, but the larger particles are unable to pass through. Reverse osmosis filters are only capable of making a limited amount of usable water daily. The best reverse osmosis filters on the current market can only produce a maximum of 8 gallons per day. They also require 3 -4 gallons of water to produce a single gallon of filtered water; the remainder is wasted. Reverse osmosis filters are not recommended by themselves for use on microbial unsafe waters as the microbes may break through the membrane. A cellulose acetate membrane is subject to bacterial degradation and eventual failure. Reverse osmosis units can be installed either on the counter top or underneath the sink. A do-it-yourself consumer can install a reverse osmosis unit with relative ease.

Water Softener Units Water softeners work by exchanging the hard calcium and magnesium ions in water for sodium and potassium ions. Through this ionic exchange, other, more harmful particles such as chromium, copper, silver and cadmium may also be removed. Please call the City of Boulders Drinking Water Program at 303 -413-7400 for specific information about water hardness at your location.

Methods of filtration
Main article: Filtration

Filters use sieving, adsorption, ion exchanges and other processes. Unlike a sieve or screen, a filter can remove particles much smaller than the holes through which the water passes.

Types of filters
Water treatment plant filters Main article: Water purification

Types of water filters include media filters, screen filters, disk filters, slow sand filter beds, rapid sand filters and cloth filters.[1]
Point-of-use filters

Point-of-use filters for home use include granular-activated carbon filters (GAC) used for carbon filtering, metallic alloy filters, microporous ceramic filters, carbon block resin (CBR) and ultrafiltration membranes. Some filters use more than one filtration method. An example of this is a multi-barrier system. Jug filters can be used for small quantities of drinking water. Some kettles have built-in filters, primarily to reduce limescale buildup.
Portable water filters Main article: Portable water purification

Water filters are used by hikers, by aid organizations during humanitarian emergencies, and by the military. These filters are usually small, portable and light (1-2 pounds/0.5-1.0 kg or less), and usually filter water by working a mechanical hand pump, although some use a siphon drip system to force water through while others are built into water bottles. Dirty water is pumped via a screen-filtered flexible silicon tube through a specialized filter, ending up in a container. These filters work to remove bacteria, protozoa and microbial cysts that can cause disease. Filters may have fine meshes that must be replaced or cleaned, and ceramic water filters must have their outside abraded when they have become clogged with impurities. These water filters should not be confused with devices or tablets that are water purifiers, some of which remove or kill viruses such as hepatitis A and rotavirus.

Water polishing
The term water polishing can refer to any process that removes small (usually microscopic) unwanted material from a portion of water. The process and its meaning vary from setting to setting: a manufacturer of aquarium filters may claim that its filters perform water polishing by capturing "micro particles" within nylon or polyester pads[2] just as a chemical engineer can use the term to refer to the removal of magnetic resins from a solution by passing the solution over a bed of magnetic particulate. [3] In this sense, water polishing is simply another term for water filtration.

Carbo

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to: navigation, search

Activated carbon from a water filter used for Carbon filtering in powder and block form

For the Japanese Rock Band, see Charcoal Filter. Carbon fil ring i a met of filteri t at uses a piece of acti ated carbon to remove contaminants and impurities, utili ing chemical adsorption. ach piece of carbon is designed to provide a large section of surface area, in order to allow contaminants the most possible exposure to the filter media. One pound (454g) of activated carbon contains a surface area of approximatel 100 acres (1 km/kg).[1] This carbon is generall activated with a positive charge and is designed to attract negativel charged water contaminant. s Carbon filtering is commonl used for water purification, but is also used in air purifiers. Carbon filters are most effective at removing chlorine, sediment, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from water. They are not effective at removing minerals, salts, and dissolved inorganic compounds. Typical particle si es that can be removed by carbon filters range from 0.5 to 50 micrometres. The particle si e will be used as part of the filter description. The efficacy of a carbon filter is also based upon the flow rate regulation. When the water is allowed to flow through the filter at a slower rate, the contaminants are exposed to the filter media for a longer amount of time.

Types of carbon fil ers

il ri g

Carbon filtering is usually use in water filtration syste s. In this illustration, the activate carbon is in the fourth level (counte from bottom).

There are two predominant types of carbon filters used in the filtration industry: powdered block filters and granular activated filters. In general, carbon block filters are more effective at removing a larger number of contaminants, based upon the increased surface area of carbon. Many carbon filters also use secondary media, such as silver or KDF-55, to prevent bacteria growth within the filter.

History of carbon filters

Carbon filters have been used for several hundred years and are considered one of the oldest means of water purification. Historians have shown evidence that carbon filtration may have been used in ancient Egyptian ] cultures for both air and water sanitization.[cit ti 2000 B.C. Sanskrit text refers to filtering water ] through charcoal (1905 translation of "Sushruta Samhita" by Francis Evelyn Place).[cit ti The first [cit ti ] Carbon filtration was modern use of a carbon filter to purify potable water occurred in 1862. further advanced in the mid 1970's by H. Allen Rice and Alvin E. Rice when they first manufactured a ] porous carbon block for drinking water use.[cit ti Currently, carbon filters are used in individual homes as point-of-use water filters and, occasionally, in municipal water treatment facilities. They are also used as pre-treatment devices for reverse osmosis systems and as specialized filters designed to remove chlorine-resistant cysts, such as giardia and cryptosporidium.

Hydrogen production
For small scale production of hydrogen water purifiers are installed to prevent formation of minerals on the surface of the electrodes and to remove organics and chlorine from utility water. First the water passes through a 20 micrometer interference (mesh or screen filter) filter to remove sand and dust particles, second, a charcoal filter (activated carbon) to remove organics and chlorine, third stage, a de-ionizing filter to ] remove metallic ions.[cit ti A test can be done before and after the filter for proper functioning on barium, calcium, potassium, magnesium, sodium and silicon.

Radiation or nuclear medicine

] Carbon filters, along with HEPA filters, are widely used in the construction of hot cells.[cit ti This allows the room to exhaust air that contains infinitesimal quantities of radioactivity and contaminants.

Activated carbon From Wikipe ia, the free encyclope ia

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This article may be divided into too many sections considering its overall length. To help improve Wikipe ia's quality standards, some of the sections may need to be condensed or merged. Please discuss this issue on the talk page. October 2009 File:Activated Charcoal.jpg Activated carbon
"Activated Carbon", also called activated charcoal or activated coal is a form of carbon that has been processed to make it extremely porous and thus to have a very large surface area available for adsorption or chemical reactions. [1] The word activat in the name is sometimes replaced with activ . Due to its high degree of microporosity, just 1 gram of activated carbon has a surface area in excess of 500 m2 (about one tenth the size of a football field), as determined typically by nitrogen gas adsorption. Sufficient activation for useful applications may come solely from the high surface area, though further chemical treatment often enhances the absorbing properties of the mate rial. Activated carbon is usually derived from charcoal. Production

   





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Activated carbon is carbon produced from carbonaceous source materials like nutshells, peat, wood, coir, lignite, coal and petroleum pitch. It can be produced by one of the following processes:

1.

2.

Physical reactivation: The precursor is developed into activated carbons using gases. This is generally done by using one or a combination of the following processes: o Carbonization: Material with carbon content is pyrolyzed at temperatures in the range 600 900 C, in absence of oxygen(usually in inert atmosphere with gases like argon or nitrogen) o Activation/Oxidation: Raw material or carbonised material is exposed to oxidizing atmospheres (carbon monoxide, oxygen, or steam) at temperatures above 250 C, usually in the temperature range of 600 1200 C. Chemical activation: Prior to carbonization, the raw material is impregnated with certain chemicals. The chemical is typically anacid, strong base, or a salt (phosphoric acid, potassium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, zinc chloride, respectively). Then, the raw material is carbonized at lower temperatures (450 900 C). It is believed that the carbonization / activation step proceeds simultaneously with the chemical activation. Chemical activation is preferred over physical activation owing to the lower temperatures and shorter time needed for activating material.

Classification Activated carbons are complex products which are difficult to classify on the basis of their behaviour, surface characteristics and preparation methods. However, some broad classification is made for general purpose based on their physical characteristics. [edit] Powdered activated carbon (PAC)

A micrograph of activated charcoal under bright field illumination on a light microscope. Notice the fractal-like shape of the particles hinting at their enormous surface area. Each particle in this image, despite being only around 0.1 mm wide, has a surface area of several square metres. This image of activated charcoal in water is at a scale of 6.236 pixels/ m, the entire image covers a region of approximately 1.1 by 0.7 mm.
Traditionally, active carbons are made in particular form as powders or fine granules less than 1.0 mm in size with an average diameter between .15 and .25 mm. [2] Thus they present a large surface to volume ratio with a small diffusion distance. PAC is made up of crushed or ground carbon particles, 95 100% of which will pass through a designated mesh sieve or sieve. Granular activated carbon is d efined as the activated carbon being retained on a 50 -mesh sieve (0.297 mm) and PAC material as finer material, while ASTM classifies particle sizes corresponding to an 8 0-mesh sieve (0.177 mm) and smaller as PAC. PAC is not commonly used in a dedicated vessel, owing to the high head loss that would occur. PAC is generally added directly to other process u nits, such as raw water intakes, rapid mix basins, clarifiers, and gravity filters. Granular activated carbon (GAC) Granular activated carbon has a relatively larger particle size compared to powdered activated carbon and consequently, prese nts a smaller e xternal surface. Diffusion of the adsorbate is thus an important factor. These carbons are therefore preferred for all adsorption of gases and vapours as their rate of diffusion are faster. Granulated carbons are used for water treatment, deodourisation and separation of components of flow system. GAC can be either in the granular form or extruded. GAC is desi gnated by sizes such as 820, 2040, or 830 for liquid phase applications and 46, 48 or 410 for vapour phase applications . A 2040 carbon is made of particles that will pass through a U.S. Standard Mesh Size No. 20 sieve (0.84 mm) (generally specified as 85% passing) but be retained on a U.S. Standard Mesh Size No. 40 sieve (0.42 mm) (generally specified as 95% retained). AWWA (1992) B604 uses the 50 -mesh sieve (0.297 mm) as the minimum GAC size. The most popular aqueous phase carbons are the 1240 and 830 sizes because they have a good balance of size, surface area, and head loss characteristics. Extruded activated carbon (EAC) Extruded activated carbon combine s powdered activated carbon with a binder, which are fused together and extruded into a cylindrical shaped activated carbon block with diameters from 0.8 to 130 mm. These are mainly used for gas phase applications because of their low pressure drop, high m echanical strength and low dust content. Impre nated carbon Porous carbons containing several types of inorganic impregnant such as iodine, silver, cations such as Al, Mn, Zn, Fe, Li, Ca have also been prepared for specific application in air pollution control especially in museums and galleries. Due to antimicrobial/antiseptic properties, silver loaded activated carbon is us ed as an adsorbent for purification of domestic water. Drinking water can be obtained from natural water by treating the natural water with a mixture of activated carbon and Al(OH)3, a flocculating agent . Impregnated carbons are also used for the adsorption of H 2S and thiols. Adsorption rates for H2S as high as 50% by weight have been reported. Polymer coated carbon This is a process by which a porous carbon can be coated with a biocompatible polymer to give a smooth and permeable coat without blocking the pores. The resulting carbon is useful for hemoperfusion. Hemoperfusion is a treatment technique in which large volumes of the patient's blood ar e passed over an adsorbent substance in order to remove toxic substances from the blood.

Other Activated carbon is also available in special forms such as cloths and fibres. The "carbon cloth" for instance is used in per sonnel protection for the military. Properties A gram of activated carbon can have a surface area in excess of 500 m2, with 1500 m2 being readily achievable. [3] Carbon aerogels, while more expensive, have even higher surface areas, and are used in special applications.

Activated carbon, as viewed by an electron microscope

Under an electron microscope, the high surface -area structures of activated carbon are revealed. Individual particles are intensely convoluted and display various kinds of porosity; there may be many areas where flat surfaces of graphite-like material run parallel to each other, separated by only a few nanometers or so. These micropores provide superb conditions for adsorption to occur, since adsorbing material can interact with many surfaces simultaneously. Tests of adsorption behaviour are usually done with nitrogen gas at 77 K under high vacuum, but in everyday terms activated carbon is perfectly capable of producing the equivalent, by adsorption from its environment, liquid water from steam at 100 C and a pressure of 1/10,000 of an atmosphere. James Dewar, the scientist after which the Dewar (Vacuum flask) is named, spent much time studying activated carbon and published a paper regarding its absorption capacity with regard to gases. [4] In this paper, he dis covered that cooling the carbon to liquid nitrogen temperatures allowed it to absorb significant quantities of numerous air gases, among others, that could then be recollected by simply allowing the carbon to warm again an d that coconut based carbon was superior for the effect. He uses oxygen as an example, wherein the activated carbon would typically absorb the atmospheric conc entration (21%) under standard conditions, but release over 80% oxygen if the carbon was first cooled to low temperatures. Physically, activated carbon binds materials by van der Waals force or London dispersion force . Activated carbon does not bind well to certain chemicals, including alcohols, glycols, strong acids and bases, metals and most inorganics, such as lithium, sodium, iron, lead, arsenic, fluorine, and boric acid. Activated carbon does adsorb iodine very well and in fact the iodine number, mg/g, (ASTM D28 Standard Method test) is used as an indication of total surface area. Contrary to a claim repeated [citati diazo copier machines.

Carbon monoxide is not well absorbed by activated carbon. This should be of particular concern to those using the material in other gas control systems as the gas is undetectable to the human senses, toxic to metabolism and neurotoxic. Substantial lists of the common industrial and agricultural gases absorbed by activated carbon can be found online.
[5]

Activated carbon can be used as a substrate for the application of various chemicals to improve the adsorptive capacity for s ome inorganic (and problematic organic) compounds such as hydrogen sulfide (H2S), ammonia (NH 3), formaldehyde (HCOH), radioisotopes iodine-131(131I) and mercury (Hg). This property is known as chemisorption.

Iodine number
Many carbons preferentially adsorb small molecules. Iodine number is the most fundamental parameter used to characterize activated carbon performance. It is a measure of activity level (higher number indicates higher degree of activation), ofte n reported in mg/g (typical range 500 1200 mg/g). It is a measure of the micropore content of the activated carbon (0 to 20 , or up to 2 nm) by adsorption of iodine from solution. It is equivalent to surface area of carbon between 900 m/g and 1100 m/g. It is the standard measure for liquid phase applications. Iodine number is defined as the milligrams of iodine adsorbed by one gram of carbon when the iodine concentration in the residual filtrate is 0.02 normal. Basically, iodine number is a measure of the iodine adsorbed in the pores and, as suc h, is an indication of the pore volume available in the activated carbon of interest. Typically, water treatment carbons have iodine numbers ranging from 600 to 1100. Frequently, this parameter is used to determine the degree of exhaustion of a carbon in u se. However, this practice should be viewed with caution as chemical interactions with the adsorbate may affect the iodine uptake giving false results. Thus, the use of iodine number as a measure of the degree of exhaustion of a carbon bed can only be recommended if it has been shown to be free of chemical interactions with adsorbates and if an experimental correlation between iodine number and the degree of exha ustion has been determined f or the particular application.

Molasses

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throughout the web, activated carbon can capture gaseous ammonia. In fact, it is utilized for that very function in many

filters for respirators, fume hoods or

Some carbons are more adept at adsorbing large molecules. Molasses number or molasses efficiency is a measure of the mesopore content of the activated carbon (greater than 20 , or larger than 2 nm) by adsorption of molasses from solution. A high molasses number indicates a high adsorption of big molecules (range 95 600). Caramel dp (decolorizing performanc e) is similar to molasses number. Molasses efficiency is reported as a percentage (range 40% 185%) and parallels molasses number (600 = 185%, 425 = 85%). The European molasses number (range 525 110) is inversely related to the North American molasses numbe r. Molasses Number is a measure of the degree of decolorization of a standard molasses solution that has been diluted and standa rdized against standardized activated carbon. Due to the size of color bodies, the molasses number represents the potential pore volume available for larger adsorbing species. As all of the pore volume may not be available for adsorption in a particular waste water application, and as some of the adsorbate may ent er smaller pores, it is not a good measure of the worth of a particul ar activated carbon for a specific application. Frequently, this parameter is useful in evaluating a series of active carbons for their rates of adsorption. Given two active carbons with similar pore volumes for adsorption, the one having the higher molass es number will usually have larger feeder pores resulting in more efficient transfer of adsorbate into the adsorption space.

Tannin
Tannins are a mixture of large and medium size molecules. Carb ons with a combination of macropores and mesopores adsorb tannins. The ability of a carbon to adsorb tannins is reported in parts per million concentration (range 200 ppm 362 ppm).

Methylene blue
Some carbons have a mesopore (20 to 50 , or 2 to 5 nm) structure which adsorbs medium size molecules, such as the dye methylene blue. Methylene blue adsorption is reported in g/100g (range 11 28 g/100g).

Dechlorination
Some carbons are evaluated based on the dechlorination half-value length, which measures the chlorine -removal efficiency of activated carbon. The de chlorination half-value length is the depth of carbon required to reduce the chlorine level of a flowing stream from 5 ppm to 3.5 ppm. A lower half-value length indicates superior performance.

Apparent density
Higher density provides greater volume activit y and normally indicates better quality activated carbon.

Hardness/abrasion number
It is a measure of the activated carbons resistance to attrition. It is important indicator of activated carbon to maintain its physical integrity and withstand frictional forces imposed by backwashing, etc. There are large differences in the hardness of activated carbons, depending on the raw ma terial and activity level.

Ash content
It reduces the overall activity of activated carbon. It reduces the efficiency of reactivati on. The metal oxides (Fe 2O3) can leach out of activated carbon resulting in discoloration. Acid/water soluble ash content is more significant than total ash content. Soluble ash content can be very imp ortant for aquarists, as ferric oxide can promote algal growths, a carbon with a low soluble ash content should be used for marine, freshwater fish and reef tanks to avoid heavy met al poisoning and excess plant/algal growth.

Carbon tetrachloride activity

Measurement of the porosity of an activated carbon by the adsorption of saturated carbon tetrachloride vapour.

Particle size distribution

The finer the particle size of an activated carbon, the better the access to the surface area and the faster the rate of adso rption kinetics. In vapour phase systems this needs to be considered against pressure drop, which will affect energy cost. Careful consideration of particle size distributi on can provide significant operating benefits. Examples of adsorption Heterogeneous catalysis The most commonly encountered form of chemisorption in industry, occurs when a solid catalyst interacts with a gaseous feedstock, the reactant/s. The adsorption of reactant/s to the catalyst surface creates a chemical bond, alt ering the electron density around the reactant molecule and allowing it to undergo reactions that would not normally be available to it. Adsorption refrigeration Adsorption refrigeration and heat pump cycles rely on the adsorption of a refrigerant gas into an adsorbent at low pressure and subsequent desorption by heating. The adsorbent acts as a "chemical compressor" driven by heat and is, from thi s point of view, the "pump" of the system. It consists of a solar collector, a condenser or heat-exchanger and an evaporator that is placed in a refrigerator box. The inside of the collector is lined with an adsorption bed packed with activated carbon adsorbed with methanol. The refrigerator box is insulated filled with water. The activated carbon can adsorb a large amount of me thanol vapours in ambient temperature and desorb it at a higher temperature (around 100 degrees Celsius). During the daytime, the s unshine irradiates the collector, so the collector is heated

up and the methanol is desorbed from the activated carbon. In desorption, the liquid methanol adsorbed in the charcoal heats up and vaporizes. The methanol vapour condenses and is stored in the e vaporator. At night, the collector temperature decreases to the ambient temperature, and the charcoal adsorbs the methanol from the evap orator. The liquid methanol in the evaporator vaporizes and absorbs the heat from the water contained in the trays. Sinc e adsorption is a process of releasing heat, the collector must be cooled efficiently at night. As mentioned above, the adsorption refrigeration system operates in an intermittent way to produce the refrigerating effect. Helium gas can also be 'pumped' by thermally cycling activated carbon 'sorption pumps' between 4 kelvins and higher temperatures. An example of this is to provide the cooling power for the Oxford Instruments AST series dilution r efrigerators. 3He vapour is pumped from the surface of the dilute phase of a mixture of liquid 4He and its isotope 3He. The 3He is adsorbed onto the surfaces of the carbon at low temperature (typically <4K), the regeneration of the pump between 20 and 40 K returns the 3He to the concentrated phase of the liquid mixture. Cooling occurs at the interface between the two liquid phases as 3He 'evaporates' across the phase boundary. If more than one pump is present in the system a continuous flow of gas and hence constant cooling power can be obtained, by having one sorption pump regenerating while the other is pumping. Systems such as this allow temperatures as low as 10 mK (0.01 kelvin) to be obtained with very few moving parts. Applications Activated carbon is used in gas purification , gold purification, metal extraction, water purification , medicine, sewage treatment, air filters in gas masks and respirators, filters in compressed air and many other applications. One major industrial application involves use of activated carbon in the metal finishing field. It is very widely employ ed for purification of electroplating solutions. For example, it is a main purification technique for removing organic impurities from bright nickel plating soluti ons. A variety of organic chemicals are added to plating solutions for improving their deposi t qualities and for enhancing properties like brightness, smoothness, ductility, etc. Due to passage of direct current and electrolytic reactions of anodic oxidation and cathodic reduction, organic additives generate unwanted break down products in solutio n. Their excessive build up can adversely affect the plating quality and physical properties of deposited metal. Activated carbon trea tment removes such impurities and restores plating performance to the desired level. Analytical chemistry applications Activated carbon, in 50% w/w combination with celite, is used as stationary phase in low -pressure chromatographic separation of carbohydrates (mono -, ditrisacchardes) using ethanol solutions (5 50%) as mobile phase in analytical or preparative protocols. Environmental applications Activated carbon is usually used in water filtration systems. In this illustration, the activated carbon is in the fourth level (counted from bottom). Carbon adsorption has numerous applications in removing pollutants from air or water streams both in the field and in industrial process es such as:

y y y y y

Spill cleanup Groundwater remediation Drinking water filtration Air purification Volatile organic compounds capture from painting, dry cleaning, gasoline dispensing operations, and other processes.

In 2007, West-Flanders University (in Belgium) began research in water treatment after festivals [6]. A full scale activated carbon installation was built at the ] ] , with plans to utilize the technology to treat water at this festival for the next 20 years [citati . Dranouter music festival in 2008 [citati Activated charcoal is also used for the measurement of radon concentration in air. Medical applications Activated carbon is used to treat poisonings and overdoses following oral ingestion. It is thought to bind to poison and prevent its absorption by the gastrointestinal tract . In cases of suspected poisoning, medical personnel administer activated charcoal on the scene or at a hospital's emergency department. Dosing is usually empirical at 1 gram/kg of body weight (for adolescents or adults, give 50 100 g), usually given only once, but depending on the drug taken, it may be given more than once. I n rare situations activated charcoal is used in Intensive Care to filter out harmful drugs from the blood stream of poisoned patients. Activated charcoal has become the treatment of choice for many poisonings, and other decontamination methods such as ipecac-induced emesis or stomach pumping are now used rarely.

323221 10

323221 10

Activated charcoal for medical use.

While activated carbon is useful in acute poisoning, it has been shown to not be effective in long term accumulation of toxin s, such as with the use of toxic herbicides. [7] Mechanisms of action:

y y

Binding of the toxin to prevent stomach and intestinal absorption. Binding is reversible so a cathartic such as sorbitol may be added as well. It interrupts the enterohepatic and enteroenteric circulation of some drugs/toxins and their metabolites
[8]

Incorrect application (e.g. into the l ungs) results in pulmonary aspiration which can sometimes be fatal if immediate medical treatment is not initiated. activated charcoal is contraindicated when the ingested substance is an acid, an alkali, or a petroleum product.

The use of

For pre-hospital (paramedic) use, it comes in plastic tubes or bottles, commonly 12.5 or 25 grams, pre -mixed with water. The trade names include InstaChar, SuperChar, Actidose, Charcodote, a nd Liqui-Char, but it is commonly called activated charcoal. Ingestion of activated charcoal prior to consumption of alcoholic beverages appeared to reduce absorption of ethanol into the blood. 5 to 15 milligrams of charcoal per kilogram of body weight taken at the same time as 170 ml of pure ethanol (which equals to about 10 servings of an alcoholic beverage), over the course of one hour, seemed to reduce potential blood alcohol content .[9] Yet other studies showed that this is not the case, and that ethanol blood concentrations were i creased because of activated charcoal use. [10] Charcoal biscuits were sold in England starting in the early 19th century, originally as an antidote to flatulence and stomach trouble. [11] Tablets or capsules of activated charcoal are used in many countries as an over-the-counter drug to treat diarrhea, indigestion, and flatulence. [12] There is some evidence of its effectiveness as a treatment for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), [13] and to prevent diarrhea in cancer patients who have received irinotecan.[14] It can interfere with the absorbency of some medications, and lead to unreliable readings in medical tests such as the guaiac card test. [15] Activated charcoal is also used for bowel preparation by reducing intestinal gas content before abdominal radiography to visualize bile and pancreatic and renal stones. A type of ch arcoal biscuit has also been marketed as a pet care product. Fuel storage Research is being done testing various activated carbons' ability to store natural gas and hydrogen gas. The porous material acts like a sponge for different types of gasses. The gas is attracted to the carbon material via Van der Waals forces. Some carbons have been able to achieve bonding energies of 5 10 kJ per mol. The gas may then be desorbed when subjected to higher temperatures and either combusted to do work or in the case of hyd rogen gas extracted for use in a hydrogen fuel cell. Gas storage in activated carbons is an appealing gas storage method because the gas can be stored in a low pressure, low mass, low volume environment that would be much more feasible than bulky on board compression tanks in vehicles. The United States Department of Energy has specified certain goals to be achieved in the area of research and development of nano -porous carbon materials. As of yet all of the goals are yet to be satisfied but numerous institutions, including the Alliance for Collaborative Res earch in Alternative Fuel Technology (ALL -CRAFT, http://all -craft.missouri.edu ) program, are continuing to conduct work in this promising field. Gas purification Filters with activated carbon are usually used in compressed air and gas purification to remove oil vapors, odors, and other hydrocarbons from the air. The most common designs use a 1 stage or 2 stage filtration principle in which activated carbon is embedded inside the filter media. Activated charcoal is also used in spacesuit Primary Life Support Systems. Activated charcoal filters are used to retain radioactive gases from a nuclear boiling water reactor turbine condenser. The air vacuumed from the condenser co ntains traces of radioactive gases. The large charcoal beds adsorb these gases and retains them while they rapidly decay to non-radioactive solid species. The solids are trapped in the charcoal particles, while the filtered air passes through. Chemical purification Activated carbon is commonly used to purify homemade non -dangerous chemicals such as sodium acetate. Distilled alcoholic beverage purification See also: Lincoln County Process

Activated carbon filters can be used to filter vodka and whiskey of organic impurities which can affect color, taste, and odor. Passing an organically impure vodka through an activated carbon filter at the proper flow rate will result in vodka with an identical alcohol content and significantly increased organic pur ity, as judged by odor and taste. [citati eeded ] Mercury scrubbing Activated carbon, often impregnated with iodine or sulfur, is widely used to trap mercury emissions from coal-fired power stations, medical incinerators, and from natural gas at the wellhead. This carbon is a specialty product costing more than US$4.00 per kg. However, it is often not recycled. Disposal in the USA after absorbing mercury The mercury laden activated carbon presents a disposal dilemma. [citati eeded ] If the activated carbon contains less than 260 ppm mercury, Federal regulations allow it to be stabilized (for example, trapped in concrete) for landfilling. [citati eeded ] However, waste containing greater than 260 ppm is considered to be in the high mercury subcategory and is banned from land filling (Land -Ban Rule). [citati eeded ] It is this material which is now accumulating in warehouses and in deep abandoned mines at an estimated rate of 10 00 tons per year. [citati eeded ] The problem of disposal of mercury laden activated carbon is not unique to the U.S. In the Netherlands this mercury is largel y recovered [16] and the activated carbon is disposed by complete burning. Regeneration The regeneration of activated carbons involves restoring the adsorptive capacity of saturated activated carbon by desorbing adsorbed contaminants on the activated carbon surface. Thermal regeneration The most common regeneration technique employed in industrial processes is thermal regeneration steps [18]:
[17]

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Adsorbent drying at approximately 105 C High temperature desorption and decomposition (500 900C) under an inert atmosphere Residual organic gasification by an oxidising gas (steam or carbon dioxide) at elevated temperatures (800C)

The heat treatment stage utilises the exothermic nature of adsorption and results i n desorption, partial cracking and polymerization of the adsorbed organics. The final st ep aims to remove charred organic residue formed in the porous structure in the previous stage and re -expose the porous carbon structure regenerating its original surface characteristics. After treatment the adsorption column can be reused. Per adsorption -thermal regeneration cycle between 5 15 wt% of the carbon bed is burnt off resulting in a loss of adsorptive capacity. [19]. Thermal regeneration is a high energy process due to the high required temperatures making it both an energetically and commercially expensive process [18]. Plants that r ely on thermal regeneration of activated carbon have to be of a certain size before it is economically viable to have regeneration facilities onsite. As a result it is common for smaller waste treatment sites to shi p their activated carbon cores to a specialised facility for regeneration, increasing the processes already significant carbon footprint [20]. Other regeneration techniques Current concerns with the high energy/cost nature of thermal regeneration of activated carbon has encouraged research into al ternative regeneration methods to reduce the environmental impact of such processes. Though sev eral of the regeneration techniques cited have remained areas of purely academic research, some alternatives to thermal regeneration systems have been employed in industry. Current alternative regeneration methods are:

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Chemical and solvent regeneration [21] Microbial regeneration [22] Electrochemical regeneration [23] [24] Ultrasonic regeneration [25] Wet air oxidation

How to Make a Coffee-Clay Water Filter

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Water-borne, diarrhoea-causing bacteria, such as E. coli, kill 1.6 million people every year.

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. The thermal regeneration pro cess generally follows three

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1 A cheap and simple water filter that Anyone can make Anywhere 2 Contact 3 Related Articles 4 Categories

A cheap and simple water filter that Anyone can make Anywhere
Those filters are made from clay because it's easy to use and most importantly... it's free. But fired clay alone is too dense to let the water pass at a desirable pace. Therefore some organic material is being added to increase the porousity: Organic material - like used coffee grounds, grounded rice husk, tea leaves or straw, papier-mach... - will would burn up in the firing process and leave tiny holes in the clay. Clay and Grounded coffee are materials widely available around the world.
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Mix equal parts: One handful of clay, one handful of coffee grounds, for exemple from a collecting bin at the local coffee shop. Mix with enough water to form a thick biscuit like paste and form a cylindrical recipient with this paste. The walls of the filter should be as thick as an adult's index. Leave it in the sun to dry. fire the clay with cow manure: pack the pots in dry straw, and after you lay them on a first layer of dry cow dung, cover them with it completely.

A dung fire burns at around 950 degrees C - the right temperature for firing clay. The filters should turn bright orange during the firing process and stay so for 30 min. It normally takes about an hour of baking in the dung to fire the filter. The bacteria are slightly bigger than the pores of clay and get trapped in the clay. The coffee increases the porosity and the contact surface of the clay. Lab tests showed that the clay and coffee combination works well: it takes one to two hours to filter one litre of water, and the coffee-clay filter removes up to 99.8 percent of bacteria in water.