What is the primary purpose of activated carbon in water treatment?

The primary purpose of activated carbon in water treatment is to remove taste and odor. Activated carbon has a highly porous structure that provides a large surface area for adsorption, allowing it to effectively trap organic compounds, chlorine, and other substances that contribute to unpleasant tastes and odors in water. This process is essential in providing clean and palatable drinking water, as well as improving the overall quality of water for various uses.

While options like adjusting pH, coagulating particles, and disinfecting water are important functions in water treatment, they are not the main role of activated carbon. Adjusting pH is typically achieved through the addition of acids or bases, coagulants are used for particle removal through aggregation processes, and disinfection usually involves chemical agents such as chlorine or physical processes like UV treatment. Activated carbon’s specialized function is specifically targeted towards enhancing water’s aesthetic qualities by eliminating unwanted tastes and smells.