Carbon Filters in Air Purifiers: Their Functions Explained

Learn how carbon filters work in air purifiers to remove odors and harmful chemicals for cleaner indoor air.
Explore Air Purifiers
3 min
6-Jan-2025
Carbon filter air purifiers are a popular choice for improving indoor air quality, especially in spaces affected by smoke, pet odours, or chemical fumes. These purifiers use activated carbon to absorb pollutants and neutralise unpleasant smells. In this guide, we will discuss their functionality, benefits, and key features to consider.

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Introduction: Understanding the role of carbon filters in air purifiers

Carbon filters play a crucial role in improving indoor air quality by effectively removing odours, smoke, and harmful gases. Found in many modern air purifiers, these filters use activated carbon to trap pollutants at a molecular level, ensuring fresher and healthier air.

Unlike traditional filters that focus on dust and allergens, carbon filters excel at eliminating volatile organic compounds (VOCs), smoke particles, and unpleasant smells. Whether you are looking for a purifier for your home, office, or car, carbon filters are an essential component for cleaner air. Explore the latest air purifiers on EMI and find a model that suits your needs and budget.

How carbon filters work in air purifiers

  • Activated carbon technology: Carbon filters are made from porous activated carbon, which has an enormous surface area to absorb pollutants effectively.
  • Adsorption process: Pollutants like smoke, chemicals, and odours are trapped on the surface of the carbon particles through a process called adsorption.
  • Elimination of gases: These filters excel at removing gaseous pollutants such as formaldehyde, benzene, and VOCs.
  • Odour neutralisation: Carbon filters effectively neutralise smells from cooking, pets, and tobacco smoke.
  • Complementary filtration: They are often paired with HEPA filters for comprehensive air purification.
  • Maintenance: Regular replacement of carbon filters is essential for optimal performance, as saturated filters lose their effectiveness.
  • Versatile applications: Carbon filters are used in home air purifiers, car purifiers, and industrial air cleaning systems.

Types of pollutants removed by carbon filters

  • Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs): Commonly found in paints, cleaning products, and furniture, VOCs are harmful gases effectively absorbed by carbon filters.
  • Tobacco smoke: Carbon filters remove smoke particles and eliminate the lingering smell of tobacco.
  • Pet odours: Unpleasant smells from pets are neutralised efficiently.
  • Cooking smells: Carbon filters capture odours from spices, frying, and other kitchen activities.
  • Chemical fumes: Harmful gases from household chemicals, paints, and adhesives are absorbed.
  • Exhaust fumes: The best air purifiers have carbon filters to help reduce car exhaust pollutants that may enter indoor spaces.
  • General odours: Everyday household odours, including musty smells, are effectively controlled.

Carbon filters and odour removal: A key function

  • Effective odour neutralisation: Carbon filters are highly effective at absorbing and eliminating strong odours from pets, cooking, and smoking.
  • Molecular trapping: Activated carbon adsorbs odour-causing molecules, preventing them from circulating in the air.
  • Ideal for homes with pets: These filters help manage pet-related smells, creating a fresher living space.
  • Cooking odours: Persistent kitchen smells, especially from frying and spices, are neutralised effectively.
  • Tobacco smoke: Carbon filters reduce the smell of cigarette smoke, improving air quality in smoking areas.
  • Fresh indoor air: By removing odours, carbon filters create a more pleasant and breathable indoor environment.
  • Regular maintenance: Replacing carbon filters regularly ensures continued effectiveness in odour control.

The role of carbon filters in VOC (volatile organic compounds) removal

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are harmful gases released from everyday household products such as paints, cleaning agents, adhesives, and furniture. Prolonged exposure to VOCs can lead to health issues, including respiratory problems, headaches, and even long-term complications. Carbon filters play a crucial role in eliminating these invisible pollutants from indoor spaces.

Activated carbon in these filters works through adsorption, where VOC molecules stick to the carbon surface. This process ensures that harmful gases are trapped effectively, preventing them from circulating in the air. Unlike other filters that primarily trap dust and allergens, carbon filters specialise in addressing gaseous pollutants, making them essential for homes with high VOC sources.

While carbon filters are effective at removing VOCs, their efficiency diminishes once the filter becomes saturated. Regular replacement is necessary to maintain optimal performance. For households with newly painted walls, fresh furniture, or heavy use of cleaning chemicals, investing in an air purifier with a high-quality carbon filter is a wise choice.

For reliable air purification, consider options like Xiaomi air purifiers, which are known for their advanced filtration systems and efficiency in removing VOCs.

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Explore air purifiers on EMI with Bajaj Finserv

For those looking for a reliable air purifier, go on Bajaj Mall to explore different models and compare features that suit your home or office environment. Once you have made your choice, head over to your nearest Bajaj Finserv partner store to make your purchase. With Bajaj Finserv’s flexible EMI options, you can own an air purifier without breaking the bank. You can also choose a repayment plan that fits your financial needs, allowing you to spread the cost over Easy EMIs.

Benefits of shopping with Bajaj Finserv

  • Affordable pricing: air purifiers are available at competitive prices across Bajaj Finserv partner stores, making them a smart investment for a healthier living environment.
  • Easy EMIs: Enjoy hassle-free payments with affordable EMI options on air purifiers, making it easier to manage your budget while ensuring cleaner air.
  • Zero down payment: With zero down payment on selected models, you can start using your air purifier right away without paying anything upfront.
  • Wide range and accessibility: Whether you need an air purifier for a small room or a large space, Crusaders offers a wide range of models available at partner stores.
  • Special deals and cashback: Take advantage of exclusive offers and cashback opportunities when you buy an air purifier.
  • Complimentary home delivery: Enjoy free home delivery on select models of air purifiers, ensuring a convenient shopping experience from start to finish.

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Frequently asked questions

What pollutants are removed by a carbon filter in air purifiers?
Carbon filters effectively remove gaseous pollutants, odours, and harmful chemicals from indoor air. They trap volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from paints and cleaning products, tobacco smoke, cooking odours, pet smells, and chemical fumes. This makes them essential for improving indoor air quality and reducing harmful airborne gases.

How often should I replace the carbon filter in my air purifier?
Carbon filters should typically be replaced every 3–6 months, depending on the air quality and frequency of use. In environments with heavy smoke, pet odours, or chemical fumes, filters may need replacement more frequently. Always follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for optimal air purification performance.

Can a carbon filter eliminate cigarette smoke odours?
Yes, carbon filters are highly effective at removing cigarette smoke odours. The activated carbon traps smoke particles and absorb the odour-causing chemicals, preventing them from lingering in the air. However, heavily saturated filters lose effectiveness and require regular replacement for consistent results.

What is the difference between HEPA and carbon filters?
HEPA filters capture solid particles like dust, pollen, and allergens, while carbon filters target gaseous pollutants, odours, and chemical fumes. HEPA filters are ideal for removing airborne allergens, while carbon filters excel at neutralising smells and harmful gases, making them complementary in air purifiers.

How long do carbon filters last in air purifiers?
The lifespan of a carbon filter depends on air quality and usage but typically lasts 3–6 months. In areas with high levels of smoke, odours, or chemicals, filters may become saturated faster and require more frequent replacement. Regular maintenance ensures optimal performance and cleaner indoor air.

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