Carbon filtering

As a result, the substrate has a large surface area within which contaminants can be trapped.

One gram of activated carbon has a surface area in excess of 3,000 m2 (32,000 sq ft).

It is also used in a number of other applications, including respirator masks, the purification of sugarcane, some methods of coffee decaffeination, and in the recovery of precious metals, especially gold.

They are not effective at removing minerals, salts, and dissolved inorganic substances.

Typical particle sizes which can be removed by carbon filters range from 0.5 to 50 μm.