Activated carbon can be used to remove formaldehyde from the air, but its effectiveness and efficiency are affected by many factors. Formaldehyde is a common indoor air pollutant, usually from furniture, building materials, carpets, paints, etc. Here are some basic principles and influencing factors of activated carbon removal of formaldehyde:
Principle
Physical adsorption: Activated carbon has a developed pore structure and a high specific surface area, which enables it to adsorb gases and volatile organic compounds in the air, including formaldehyde.
Factors that affect the effect are as following:
Properties of activated carbon: The adsorption performance of activated carbon depends on its specific surface area, pore size distribution and surface chemical properties. High-quality activated carbon usually has better formaldehyde adsorption capacity.
Environmental conditions: Temperature and humidity affect the adsorption capacity of activated carbon. Generally speaking, lower temperature and higher humidity help improve the adsorption efficiency of activated carbon.
Contaminant concentration: Initially, activated carbon can effectively adsorb formaldehyde, but as the pollutant concentration increases and the activated carbon is saturated, the adsorption capacity will decrease.
Replacement frequency: The adsorption capacity of activated carbon is limited and needs to be replaced or regenerated regularly to maintain its adsorption performance.
