Activated carbon is frequently used to remove tastes and odors from water by the process of...

Activated carbon is a material renowned for its ability to remove tastes and odors from water primarily through the process of adsorption. In adsorption, contaminants in the water adhere to the surface of the activated carbon, allowing them to be trapped and effectively removed from the water. The highly porous structure of activated carbon provides a large surface area, which enhances its capacity to capture various organic compounds, chlorine, and other impurities that contribute to undesirable tastes and odors.

Unlike absorption, where a substance is taken in and becomes part of the material (like a sponge soaking up water), adsorption involves a surface interaction, making it the appropriate term for this cleaning method. The terms bonding and binding do not specifically describe the physical interaction of contaminants adhering to a surface, nor are they commonly used in the context of water treatment processes involving activated carbon. Therefore, adsorption is the accurate term for how activated carbon functions to improve water quality.