Activated carbon filters remove what from water?

• A. Dissolved minerals
• B. Inorganic salts
• C. Other organic contaminants & VOCs
• D. Bacteria

Answer: (C)

Activated carbon filters work through adsorption onto the porous carbon surface, which makes them especially effective at removing organic compounds, including volatile organic compounds (VOCs), that affect taste, odor, and overall water quality. These organic molecules and VOCs adhere to the carbon and are held in the filter as water passes through. Inorganic minerals and salts—like calcium, magnesium, sodium, and other dissolved ions—don’t adsorb well onto carbon under normal conditions, so they aren’t reliably removed by this method. Bacteria are living organisms and are not consistently inactivated or removed by activated carbon alone; disinfection or other filtration methods are needed for bacteria. So the primary substances removed by activated carbon are other organic contaminants and VOCs.