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

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.

The standard "coconut shell" carbon is capable of adsorbing many common contaminants, such as laquer solvent or cleaning fluid at a high rating, which typically means that it can adsorb up to 25% of its own weight per pound of 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.

Look forward to your expert advise.

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.

Zeolite
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

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!