Activated carbon water purifiers play an important role in removing residual chlorine from water, with their mechanism of action based on the physical and chemical adsorption characteristics of activated carbon. Activated carbon is a porous material with a large surface area and microporous structure, which can effectively adsorb various pollutants in water, including residual chlorine. The following is a detailed explanation of its mechanism of action.

1. Adsorption characteristics of activated carbon

The adsorption action of activated carbon is mainly based on its large specific surface area and microporous structure. Activated carbon is composed of numerous micropores inside, and the size and distribution of these micropores give activated carbon a very high specific surface area. When there is residual chlorine in the water, these micropores can effectively adsorb chlorinated compounds such as chlorine gas, hypochlorous acid (HOCl), and hypochlorite ions (OCl-), thereby reducing the content of residual chlorine in the water.

2. Physical adsorption

Physical adsorption refers to the attachment of molecular pollutants to the surface of activated carbon, forming a thin film. This adsorption process does not involve the formation of chemical bonds, so when the adsorption reaches saturation, pollutants on the surface of activated carbon can be removed by physical methods (such as filtration). For activated carbon water purifiers, physical adsorption is one of the important mechanisms for removing residual chlorine.

3. Chemical adsorption

Chemical adsorption refers to the chemical reaction between the molecular pollutants and the chemical groups on the surface of activated carbon, forming stable chemical bonds. Although the chemical adsorption capacity of activated carbon is not as strong as physical adsorption, under certain conditions, chemical adsorption can also effectively remove residual chlorine. For example, certain functional groups on the surface of activated carbon (such as hydroxyl, carboxyl, etc.) can react with chlorides to form stable compounds, thereby reducing the content of residual chlorine in water.

4. Effect of residual chlorine removal

The effectiveness of activated carbon water purifiers in removing residual chlorine depends on the type of activated carbon, the amount used, and the concentration of residual chlorine in the water. Generally, the porosity, specific surface area, and pore size distribution of activated carbon will affect its adsorption performance. In addition, the regeneration performance of activated carbon is also an important factor in evaluating its performance. By appropriate regeneration methods (such as thermal regeneration, chemical regeneration, etc.), the adsorption capacity of activated carbon can be restored, extending the service life of the water purifier.

5. Conclusion

Activated carbon water purifiers play a vital role in removing residual chlorine from water, with their mechanism of action mainly including physical adsorption and chemical adsorption. By selecting appropriate activated carbon materials and reasonably configuring the amount of water purifier used, it is possible to effectively reduce the content of residual chlorine in water, improve the safety and quality of drinking water. At the same time, regular maintenance and regeneration of the activated carbon are also one of the key factors to ensure the long-term effective operation of the water purifier.