Activated Carbon In Smoke Eaters Helps With Odor Removal
The AQE CM11 Everclear DeLuxe Smoke Eater boasts of having 44 pounds of activated carbon. Unfortunately, many consumers have absolutely no idea what this means. Let’s take a look at the science of activated carbon as a medium for adsorbing various types of chemicals and odors.
Activated carbon, also referred to as activated charcoal, is an amorphous form of carbon. Carbon is found in all organic life and is the sixth most common element in the universe. Carbon is present as carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and is dissolved in all natural waters. "Non-activated"carbon is soot or charcoal.
Activated carbon is carbon that has been treated with oxygen to open up millions of tiny pores between the carbon atoms. The carbon source for activated carbon usually comes from materials such as peanut shells, coconut shells, wood, coal or even peach pits. The raw carbon is heated without air to produce a high carbon material. The carbon is activated by passing oxygen gases through the material at very high temperatures. This activation process produces millions of pores that result in high adsorbtion properties. These activated carbons adsorb odorous substances from gases or liquid vapors,including smoke. Activated carbon adsorbs odors by attaching to it by chemical attraction. Many people confuse adsorbtion with absorbtion. Adsorbtion is the physical attraction and adherence of gas or liquid vapor molecules to the surface of a solid. Gas and vapor molecules are adsorbed by the solid activated carbon. Absorbtion is the dissolving and even mixing of a substance in a liquid. An example would be mixing honey into tea.
Most reliable, high quality smoke eaters feature between 3.5 and 15 pounds of activated carbon. Buyers should beware of the many cheap, low quality air purifiers that claim to have filters containing activated carbon. In reality, these air cleaners actually contain a very small amount of carbon dust that is impregnated into a fibrous pre-filter. It is absolutely impossible for just a few ounces of carbon dust to effectively remove odors from smoking,especially pipes and cigars. Commercial smoke eaters using several pounds of activated carbon on the other hand, provide a huge surface area for the carbon to "sponge" the offending odors and trap them, allowing fresh smelling air to re-circulate throughout the room.
Air purifiers containing large amounts of activated carbon are particularly useful to individuals suffering Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS) because they adsorb irritating material from the air such as formaldehyde, commonly found in carpeting and furniture upholstery. If you own a restaurant that allows smoking, a good restaurant smokeeater with several pounds of activated carbon can provide immediate relief.
Dave Kuck, Air Purification Specialist with BPA Air Quality Solutions, says:"To do a good job of eliminating smoke odors, your air cleaner has to have lots of activated carbon. With 44 pounds, the AQE CM11 Everclear Deluxe has the most of any commercial air cleaner I’ve seen".
Bill Jacobs Said,
September 8, 2006 @ 7:19 am
I see that some of the smoke eaters that have a lot of carbon say that they also have potassium substances added to that.
What do the additives do?
Are they neccesary?
I also see some air cleaners say that they use zeolite, please xplain what some of these other types of substances do and explain why and/or when you would want to use them.
Thanks. By the way, great website!
Rod Said,
September 8, 2006 @ 10:10 am
Carbon, potassium permanganate and potassium iodide when used in air
cleaners or smoke eaters, are all referred to as gas phase media.
Potassium permanganate (KMnO4) is a strong oxidizing agent. Unlike
activated carbon, which adsorbs chemical fumes, Potassium permanganate
oxidizes compounds to form inert substances, such as hydrogen, oxygen,
carbon, etc.
Potassium iodide works in a similar way, but is not quite as
"strong," and tends to last longer, it also does not have the health
risks associated with hadling potassium permanganate. You will usually see this in residential air puifiers. Potassium iodide is also a source of iodide ions in organic synthesis, which is used in the preparation of aryl iodides from arenediazonium salts, for example:
Carbon can readily adsorb many different chemical fumes, but there
are plenty that carbon either does not adsorb or does not adsorb very
efficiently. For these substances, usually VOCs ( volitile organic
compounds), a potassium permanganate or idodide additive is very
effective, making them a great compliment to carbon when used in an air
cleaner.
You will usually find that when a potassium based additive is used,
the air cleaner is refered to as a deluxe model, + model or a
"superblend." This is because it offers a more broad range of chemical
and odor removal. Secondhand tobacco smoke
consists of thousands of different chemical compounds, carbon alone can
only handle about 2/3 of them, using an additive can greatly increase
gas and odor removal.
has been a hot topic lately, some poeple claim that it has similar gas
phase media properties, but the truth is that there is little evidence
to prove it’s effectiveness in an air cleaner. While zeolite can
seperate gasses and is commonly used in oxygen concentrators, many feel
that zeolite in an air cleaner may be used as a filler material. There
are many uses for zeolite, inlcuding; water treatment, additives in laundry detergent, asphault and soil.
It is scientifically proven that odors can trigger positive or
negative emotional responses. The #1 odor complaint in the hospitality
industry is odor from tobacco smoke. The NAFA has a lot of information
about this as well as examples if independant studdies in their article
titled "Providing an Air of Hospitality"
which further enforces the point that gas phase media and filtration
can be combined to greatly reduce secondhand smoke and odors whe used
in an air cleaner.
As always, if anyone has any questions or anything to contribute, please post here or give us a call at 1-877-688-2703
Joseph Yeo Said,
February 15, 2007 @ 9:17 pm
I have a question in regards to CPZ composition. Many Air Cleaners use CPZ filter. The composition is carbon (60%), Potassium Permanganate (20%) and Zeolite (20%). Why this composition? Why can’t Carbon be more or less than this 60%? Likewise for P & Z…..why not more or less? Is this composition most optimum?
Look forward to your expert advise.
dave Said,
March 9, 2007 @ 11:55 am
Joseph,
That’s a very good question. Depending on the odor contaminant, carbon is sometimes blended with an additional agent to more effectively adsorb that specific chemical or voc. Different gaseous contaminants have different carbon adsorbency ratings, as indicated on a typical Activated Carbon Index, which lists a number of the more common contaminants handled by carbon.
For other contaminants, such as formaldehyde, standard carbon is capable of adsorbing the gas, but at a lower efficiency – this is where an additional catalyst is required, such as potassium permanganate, which aids in the adsorption for those types of gases that require blended carbon.
As for Zeolite…from a residential application standpoint, zeolite is typically used in cases of ammonia-based fume removal – this is why it’s not uncommon to see cat litter boxes with zeolite filters, as it is used to adsorb the ammonia fumes produced by the urine. It is also used in water purification.
So, the short answer is that for applications requiring tobacco odor control, a standard carbon capacity is acceptable.
I hope you find the above information useful in your research.
Paul Said,
May 7, 2007 @ 12:03 am
Hi,
I have two Honeywell Enviracaire air cleaners, model 63200. They are CPZ units. Since I’m out of work due to a serious health condition, I cannot afford to spend $160 ($80 each) for replacement CPZ sorbent media cartridges. But what I’ve done is refill the cartridges with fresh Aqua Pure High Density Carbon (activated charcoal granules) from PetsMart.
Unfortunately, as a result of the activated charcoal, the air cleaners gives off an odor I can only describe as smelling like an orange. Worse yet, I don’t feel well after letting them run overnight.
Question: Why would “pure high density” activated charcoal granules cause such while the original CPZ cartridges did not? Charcoal is supposed to remove VOCs, not stink up the air. Could it be the type of charcoal? The Aqua Pure charcoal is made from Bituminous coal whereas the original cartridge may have used Coconut shell charcoal. Could this be the difference?
Any suggestions as to why this is would be greatly appreciated.
Best regards,
Paul
Erick Chambers Said,
May 24, 2008 @ 6:14 am
I notice you dont touch on the subject of iodine number (calculation of how active carbon is). you mention 44Lbs of carbon, while comparting it to a few grams in the mesh filters sounds good, a highly activated carbon with a high iodine number could have the same capacity for filtration with almost half that weight of a really cheap carbon with a low iodine number. As well as, smaller particle size of carbon makes it more effective opening higher surface area and not relying as much on pore size to transport adsorbents through the particle. I think it would be a good thing for your customers to see how the carbon you use stacks up against other carbons on a number to number basis. just my two cents.