ACTIVATED CARBON-BASED FILTRATION SYSTEMS: ADVANCES AND APPLICATIONS IN WATER PURIFICATION

Abstract

Water contamination poses a critical global challenge, necessitating effective purification strategies to ensure safe drinking

water and sustainable wastewater treatment. Activated carbon (AC), owing to its high surface area, tunable pore structure,

and adsorption efficiency, has emerged as a widely adopted material for water purification. This paper reviews the role of

AC in water purification, focusing on preparation methods, types of AC (powdered, granular, extruded, bead, carbon

block, and impregnated forms), adsorption mechanisms, and diverse applications across medical, industrial, agricultural,

and environmental sectors. The review also evaluates the comparative performance of AC-based filters, highlights

limitations in removing inorganic pollutants such as heavy metals and nitrates, and emphasizes the integration of AC with

hybrid technologies including membranes and nanocomposites. Finally, future directions are discussed, with particular

attention to bio-based precursors, surface modification techniques, and cost reduction strategies for large-scale

implementation.