Which one should I use, ozone generator or carbon filter?

Carbon is a versatile purification technology used in other filtration processes, such as water filtration, which removes a variety of contaminants from a given environment. This filtration technology is widely used for its inherent ability to filter and remove contaminants from the environment as well as odors.

 

Carbon is a versatile purification technology used in other filtration processes, such as water filtration, which removes a variety of contaminants from a given environment. This filtration technology is widely used for its inherent ability to filter and remove contaminants from the environment as well as odors.

The common use of carbon in personal life is more prevalent than most people realize, and the list may surprise you when it comes to the different products that contain carbon in their structure. Carbon is used in soap, toothpaste and other personal products that people use almost every day. When using carbon in an air purifier or air filter, is it the best and most effective option for ensuring safe indoor air?

 

In this article, we will learn more about the differences between activated carbon filters and ozone generators in air filters.

 

Carbon Filtration Technology

Carbon filtration technology works through a method called adsorption, where airborne contaminants are treated and trapped within the pore structure of a carbon media. The carbon feedstock is filled with other substances, such as organic matter, that fill the micropores or pores in the carbon filtration media in the carbon material. The carbon process will first remove these substances and leave pure carbon - the microscopic pores filled with other substances are now empty, greatly increasing the surface area of the carbon.

The carbon filtration process is designed to efficiently capture the large amount of contaminants in its filter media, and each piece of carbon is designed to provide a large surface area to maximize the exposure of contaminants to the filter media. Typically, carbon filtration media is activated with a positive charge designed to attract the negatively charged contaminants present in the air. Some carbon filters are made from pure carbon, while others (the vast majority of carbon filters) are manufactured by adding chemical additives that make the carbon filter media larger and more porous to contain and trap contaminants on the carbon media.

 

How Carbon Filters Work

As we discussed previously, carbon is a powerful absorbent that absorbs contaminants and draws them into the filter media. The particles/granules of carbon provide a large surface area structure on the filter media to maximize the ability to capture contaminants within the filter media, which in turn will help improve the overall indoor air quality in a given indoor environment. Approximately one pound of activated carbon has a surface area of 100 acre-feet.

When the carbon surface is activated to allow more contaminants to be captured on the media filter, this will mean that the carbon undergoes a specific activation method that is a two-stage process. The carbon material (whether it is nut shells, wood, coal, etc.) is carbonized, a process that is activated by heating it to about 600 degrees Celsius in an environment without oxygen so that it does not burn. When carbon is exposed to oxidizing agents such as oxygen, steam or carbon dioxide in a superheated environment, it activates carbon sites, which open pores on the carbon surface and greatly increase the surface area. Thus, when there is a higher surface area, it imparts a positive charge to the carbon, which will attract particles passing through the filter and bind them to the carbon's media surface.

 

What is Activated Carbon

the zinc kettle used on filters to control indoor air quality and reduce pollutants. The popularity of activated carbon is due to its inherent ability to adsorb most organic chemicals due to the large surface area created by the increased activation on the carbon/charcoal surface. When it comes to the capture and control of gaseous compounds present in the indoor air space, activated carbon will quickly and effectively trap these contaminants on this activated filter media.

In some cases, the charcoal/carbon material will be treated with additional chemicals during the activation of this material, which will be done through the use of a chemical called potassium permanganate. Potassium permanganate is used in activated carbon filter media to help attract reactions between the carbon media and the oxidation of polar or low molecular weight compounds. In addition, many manufacturers use this chemical additive on carbon filters to help extend the life of the filter for customers who do not wish to change filters more frequently. However, this comes at the cost of your environment, which is now using chemicals to trap other chemicals in the air space, something many customers strongly object to.

 

Activated Carbon vs Activated Charcoal

Two commonly interchanged words when it comes to carbon filtration is that of activated carbon and activated charcoal. When discussing carbon air filtration, you will tend to hear both of these specific characterizations stated, which can lead to many questions on whether they both mean the same When discussing carbon air filtration, you will tend to hear both of these specific characterizations stated, which can lead to many questions on whether they both mean the same thing or if they each have their own meaning when used in filters to clean the indoor air. The media is created by burning the carbon material without oxygen which makes the carbon The media is created by burning the carbon material without oxygen which makes the carbon "char". The char is than treated chemically to develop porous holes inside the carbon that allow the filter media to capture more pollutants in the material over The char is than treated chemically to develop porous holes inside the carbon that allow the filter media to capture more pollutants in the material over time.

The activated charcoal is the same thing as activated carbon, with both of these words being synonymous with one another. charcoal or activated carbon, they are speaking of the same filtration process.

 

 

Carbon Filters and Ozone Generators

Ozone generators and carbon filters have the same purpose, which is to remove odors. But the way they accomplish this goal is very different. Ozone generators release ozone into the room, which then destroys the contaminants. In contrast, a carbon filter "draws in" the surrounding air, which passes through the filter and traps the odor particles. Odorless air is then released from the unit and returned to the room. Harmful particles remain on the filter and do not return to the air at any time.

Two similarly simple and straightforward solutions, but with very different uses and limitations. Let's take a more in-depth look.

 

Effectiveness of ozone generators vs. carbon filters

 

Ozone generators are a well known and heavily used air filtration technology used in many air purifiers and indoor air filters. Ozone generators produce a byproduct of ozone gas into the air, which can be hazardous to the environment and the health of exposed individuals. Ozone is a molecule made up of three oxygen atoms, while the basic oxygen molecule is made up of two oxygen atoms. Therefore, ozone can be harmful to human health when inhaled.

There is some disagreement in the scientific community about the effectiveness of ozone generators. A considerable number of scientific studies have found that ozone has a very limited effect on odor chemicals. In other words, small amounts of ozone are not effective in removing many odors and smells. At higher concentrations, ozone can indeed treat fumes and odors. Nevertheless, ozone still has difficulty removing biological contaminants, even at very high concentrations.

Carbon filters are very effective at removing odors and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The three most common VOCs that can be removed by carbon filters are toluene, xylene and benzene. Carbon filters can also remove most odors, smells, gases and some organic compounds. The biggest factor in a carbon filter's effectiveness, other than the thickness of the filter, is the amount of carbon in the filter. The higher the carbon content and the thicker the filter, the more effective it is.

 

Pros and cons of ozone generators vs. carbon filters

Next, let's look at some of the positive and negative aspects of each.

 

Ozone Generator

Pros: Ozone generators do remove odors, some pathogens and fungi if run long enough and the ozone concentration is high enough. Most commercial ozone generators can accomplish this, so they can serve their purpose well. Ozone is also good at dealing with specific mold spores, which we typically find in damp, dark spaces like basements. It's also great for equipment disinfection purposes Another benefit is that you can actually use an ozone generator in conjunction with an ionizer, giving it more air purification capabilities.

Cons: Ozone is harmful to health, even at very low concentrations. Ozone can affect human health in many ways, including irritating the respiratory system, reducing lung function, inflaming and damaging the lining of the lungs, aggravating asthma and allergies, and even aggravating other chronic diseases such as emphysema and chronic bronchitis.

Depending on the type of ozone generator you use, they can come with regular and high maintenance costs. Ozone is also dangerous to some extent to all living things (e.g., pets and even plants).

Because of all these potential health risks from airborne ozone byproduct emissions, ozone generators may not be the best choice for multioccupancy homes.

 

Carbon Filters

Benefits: Carbon filters are very good at capturing smoke, cigarette smoke, gases and odors. In addition, once these particles are captured by the filter, they cannot be released back into the air. Another great advantage is that you can use an activated carbon filter in combination with other types of filters. By doing this, you get a really powerful air purification device. Air purifiers using HEPA filters are almost always offered together with pre-filters for large particles and carbon activated filters for odors and smells. Another advantage of carbon filters is that they are reusable. On average, a typical charcoal filter will last about a month, but can be cleaned and reused two to three times before you need to actually replace it.

Cons: Depending on the filter, changing filters can also be very inconvenient and expensive. In addition, it can be difficult to completely determine when a carbon filter needs to be replaced. It is impossible to see the saturation level of these filters with your eyes and most of the time you will have to rely on the filter replacement indicator or the manufacturer's replacement recommendations.

 

 

Price Comparison between Ozone Generators and Carbon Filters

On average, ozone generators cost almost twice as much as carbon filters. I did some digging and compared the prices of the most popular and effective ozone generators and carbon filters on the market. Obviously, there are exceptions on both sides. You can find very cheap units and very expensive units. The average user may be looking for something that is effective, but not limited to professional use (in other words: expensive).

Having said that, most decent ozone generators will cost you about $100, while the more expensive ones will cost $200. By comparison, most quality carbon filters cost around $50.

Additional note: As mentioned in the pros and cons section, carbon filters will need to be replaced from time to time. This adds to the total cost, so keep that in mind.

 

So, which one should you choose, an ozone generator or a carbon filter?

Ozone generators are primarily used for serious mold or odor problems. Ideally, you want to use an ozone generator in your basement or any unoccupied room. This is because ozone generators are very inconvenient for residential use. If you use an ozone generator in one of these rooms, you may face many problems. For one thing, the ozone may take several hours to clean the room. Even after you turn off the unit, you will have to wait an additional 4 hours for the ozone to disappear. If you suffer from allergies and asthma, then do yourself a favor and stay away from ozone. Also, remember that ozone can negatively affect pets and even kill plants if the concentration is high enough.

In almost all other odor situations, carbon filters are a better and cheaper solution. This is because carbon filters not only neutralize, but also prevent odors from spreading to other rooms. Not to mention that unlike ozone generators, carbon filters do not negatively affect humans, pets or plants. If you are growing plants (indoor garden) and want to remove any possible odors, then a carbon filter would be the best choice here as well. Carbon filters are also a more affordable solution.

 

Hopefully this information will help you decide which of these two devices is better for your needs. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us!