Buying a charcoal air purifier

Indoor air pollution is problematic for much of the world’s population. It has multiple sources, and many substances found in indoor air pollution lead to serious health problems in both the short- and long-term. Activated carbon, also known as activated charcoal, has been one of the most effective methods of air filtration for centuries, especially in the removal of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Read on to learn more about how an Eoleaf charcoal air purifier helps you breathe cleaner air.

Charcoal

Charcoal air purifiers

What causes pollution in indoor air?

Numerous factors can contribute to indoor air pollution. The sources of pollution, which include the occupants themselves, the equipment in the house, the building materials, and the furnishings, must be taken into account in order to comprehend its origins.

Indoor air pollution can generally be classified into three types: particulate matter (or fine particles), biological pollutants, and chemical pollutants.

Particulate matter

Particulate matter, often known as fine particles, are constantly inhaled while frequently being too small to see. Smoke, soot, pollen, fibres, and irritants including hair, dust, and dandruff can all contribute to these particles. DIY projects, cooking, cleaning, smoking, and candle lighting are just a few examples of household activities that might create these particles and maintain them in the atmosphere.

Biological pollutants

Naturally occurring living things including plants, animals, and moulds are the source of these contaminants. These could include mould spores, allergies, dampness, and infectious agents (germs like bacteria and viruses).

Chemical pollutants

There are several chemical contaminants in indoor air. Carbon monoxide (CO) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are two examples. Commonplace items like paints, solvents, furnishings, cleaning supplies, odor-neutralizing sprays, coatings, wood treatments, flame retardants, and pesticides release chemicals into the air. Benzene and formaldehyde are two examples of VOCs that are known carcinogens.

Insecticides and fungicides, as well as nitrogen oxides (NOx) and sulphur dioxide (SO2), are examples of additional hazardous chemical pollutants.

The benefits of Eoleaf charcoal air purifiers:

  • Quiet yet powerful devices (up to 670 m3/hr)

  • Discreet and elegant design

  • Easy to use (equipped with Automatic mode) and does not require installation or assembly

  • Can be placed anywhere in your space thanks to our 360° technology

  • Real-time air quality data

  • Filters 99.97% of pollutants using unique and innovative filtration technologies

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How do activated carbon filters work?

Activated carbon, often known as ‘activated charcoal’, is a material made of carbon that has undergone particular processing to increase its ability to draw in and filter out chemicals from both air and water. Activating carbon is done to increase its surface area, or "bed," which will increase its efficacy against a larger variety of air contaminants. The air you breathe is filtered and these toxins are removed thanks to this process. The bed's porous structure enables it to bind with gases and particles of pollutants. It is astonishing how much pollution one gramme of activated carbon can absorb on a surface area of between 400 and 2,500 square meters.

Among the eight technologies found in Eoleaf's air filtration products is activated carbon. It is one of the most extensively utilised filtration materials in industry and is used to remove impurities from both water and air filters. Because of its great versatility and ability to filter both gaseous and liquid pollutants, activated carbon is frequently used in fallout shelters, aquariums, and filters for drinking water.
Adsorption is the process by which pollutants cling to the surface of the carbon molecule, and it is the mechanism by which activated carbon functions. More surface area is created for contaminants to adhere to as a result of the activation process. Because of its increased surface area, the activated carbon can adsorb more contaminants into its bed by concentrating its attention only on the solid's surface.

The process of adsorption

The importance of coconut shells

A variety of materials, such as bamboo, wood, bark, coal, corncobs, coffee shells, wheat straw, and coconut shells, can be used as the foundation for activated carbon filters. At Eoleaf, we make charcoal using coconut shells, which is a natural and environmentally beneficial process. Reusing coconut shells, which are frequently thrown away after processing coconuts, turns waste into a useful commodity. In addition, less dust and tiny particles are produced when employing coconut shells as activated carbon filters as opposed to other natural materials like coal, wood, or bamboo.

Coconut shells become more porous and have micropores smaller than two nanometres when they are stimulated. These holes, which are between one and two nanometres in size, are ideal in comparison to the 50 nanometre pores that wood normally produces.

Which pollutants do charcoal air purifiers remove?

Air purifiers using charcoal are very good at eliminating airborne smells and chemical contaminants, particularly volatile organic compounds (VOCs). However, they don't get rid of biological contaminants like allergies or tiny particles. A filter that has earned the High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) certification is necessary to eliminate these kinds of contaminants. For this reason, we always recommend investing in an air purifier with numerous filtering technologies to battle various forms of indoor air pollution. In addition to six other technologies, Eoleaf devices include medical-grade HEPA-certified filters and activated carbon filters, guaranteeing the elimination of all forms of indoor air pollution.

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Benefits of Eoleaf’s charcoal air purifiers

Improve indoor air quality

Naturally, for many, the purpose of investing in an air purifier is to improve indoor air quality. High-quality charcoal air purifiers, like those on offer at Eoleaf, encourage healthier living and working environments, leading to improved well-being. For those suffering from allergies or respiratory conditions like asthma or COPD, the reduction of triggers in their breathing air helps significantly in reducing respiratory symptoms. Some common airborne triggers that are removed by Eoleaf charcoal air purifiers include:

  • Dust and dust mites
  • Pollen
  • Bacteria and viruses
  • Pet hair and dander
  • Fine particles
  • VOCs and gaseous pollutants
  • Fight unpleasant odours

Another benefit of an Eoleaf charcoal air purifier is the capturing of unpleasant airborne odours found in the home and workplace. This may include odours caused by dust, mould, cooking, pets, cigarettes and cannabis, smoke, gas appliances, and more. All of these odours contribute to an unpleasant environment that may impact well-being and productivity.

Help combat fumes generated by smoke and chemical pollution

Chemical fumes emitted by products in your indoor spaces, like homes or offices, may have serious negative impacts on your health. Eoleaf charcoal air purifiers remove fumes and particles emitted by dust, smoke, and more at the source.

A woman lighting a cigarette

Factors to consider when choosing a charcoal air purifier

Filtration technologies

To eliminate the smallest and most hazardous air pollutants, it is essential to invest in a device equipped with the right technologies. Of course, a charcoal air purifier by design will contain an activated carbon filter. Activated carbon excels at removing chemical pollution from the air, making it a critical technology in combatting indoor air pollution. Before purchasing a charcoal air purifier, reach out to the manufacturer of the device that interests you to enquire about the weight of their carbon filters. The heavier the activated carbon filter, the more gaseous pollutants it is able to capture. Eoleaf’s AEROPRO 150 air purifier, for example, contains 1.28 kg of activated carbon!

Activated carbon does have its limitations: chemical pollution like volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and unpleasant odours are the only pollutants able to be removed by activated carbon. It cannot remove fine particles (particulate matter) like PM10, PM2.5, PM0.1 generated by tobacco smoke or traffic; allergens like pollen, mould and spores, pet hair and dander, or dust and dust mites; or bacteria nor viruses. The removal of airborne particulate matter is ensured only by a HEPA-certified filter, filters that are third-party tested for efficiency.

Why not choose a device that addresses all types of air pollution? Eoleaf devices, with their 8 different filtration technologies, effectively combat the three main types of air pollution: fine particle pollution, chemical pollution, and biological pollution.

Room size compatibility

When selecting an air purifier, ensure it is appropriately sized for your space. Air purifiers are designed to filter air in rooms up to a certain maximum size for optimal efficiency. Choose a device with the highest Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) you can find, as a higher CADR means the air will be cleaned more efficiently. Additionally, look for a device with an Air Change per Hour (ACH) rate of 4 or 5, which is the recommended minimum for achieving completely filtered air.
For a comprehensive overview of factors to consider when investing in an air purifier, refer to our Buying Guide or reach out to our team of air purification experts for more information.

Charcoal is just one of Eoleaf’s technologies that make them superior

Our products are made to offer the greatest filtering technology on the market for air purification. Transparency is important to us, thus we post all of the information about our filtration technology on our website with consideration for your health. To protect you from the risks of indoor air pollution, our premium air purifiers include activated carbon, HEPA-certified filters, and more. Consult our comprehensive Buying Guide for additional information on selecting an air purifier, and feel free to ask any questions you may have regarding your air purification needs.

Eoleaf's AEROPRO 40 air purifier

Frequently asked questions

Do charcoal air purifiers really work?

Charcoal air purifiers are extremely effective at removing chemical pollution (ozone, VOCs, carbon monoxide) from your indoor air. This technology has been used for centuries in the filtration of both water and air.

What are the benefits of charcoal air filters?

Charcoal air purifiers improve indoor air quality by capturing gaseous pollutants like volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and removing them from your air, safeguarding you from inhaling them. VOCs have various impacts on health like causing and aggravating respiratory conditions.

What does charcoal remove from air?

Activated charcoal, more commonly referred to as activated carbon in the air purification industry, removes chemical pollution (volatile organic compounds or VOCs, ozone, and carbon monoxide, to name a few) from the air.

Is a charcoal filter better than a HEPA filter?

Charcoal filters and HEPA filters serve very different functions. Charcoal filters target chemical pollution (gaseous pollutants like VOCs, carbon monoxide, ozone) whereas HEPA filters remove fine particles (particulate matter). Both are essential technologies in a high-quality air purifier.

How long do charcoal air filters last?

This will depend upon your model of air purifier. All air purifiers have different requirements when it comes to filter replacements. Eoleaf filters are multi-layer, and our filter blocks require changing once per year.

How do I purify my whole house air?

When purchasing an air purifier, be sure to confirm that your device will completely filter all the air in your space. If you are aiming to purify the air in an entire home, depending upon your home’s size, you will likely need to purchase more than one air purifier. Contact your air purifier’s manufacturer for proper sizing.

Why use charcoal in a purifier?

Charcoal has been lauded for its water and air filtration capabilities for centuries. It is one of the most effective technologies on the market when it comes to filtration of gaseous pollutants like VOCs.

Does activated charcoal get rid of dust?

No. Activated charcoal specialises in the removal of gaseous pollutants like ozone, VOCs, and carbon monoxide, to name a few. It does not remove particle pollution like dust. For that, a HEPA-certified filter is required.


Resources

1 Myers, P. D. (2018, January 31). Activated carbon air filters: How do they work? Molekule Blog. Retrieved February 17, 2023, from https://molekule.com/blog/activated-carbon-air-filter/

2 National Research Council (US) Safe Drinking Water Committee. Drinking Water and Health: Volume 2. Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US); 1980. IV, An Evaluation of Activated Carbon for Drinking Water Treatment. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK234593/

3 Sujiono, E. H., Zabrian, D., Zurnansyah, Mulyati, Zharvan, V., Samnur, & Humairah, N. A. (2022). Fabrication and characterization of coconut shell activated carbon using variation chemical activation for wastewater treatment application. Results in Chemistry, 4, 100291. doi:10.1016/j.rechem.2022.100291

Eoleaf's range of air purifiers

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