Through what process do carbon filters primarily remove chlorine and chloramines?

Carbon filters primarily remove chlorine and chloramines through the process of adsorption. In adsorption, molecules from the liquid phase (chlorine and chloramines in this case) adhere to the surface of the carbon particles. This occurs due to the high surface area and porous structure of activated carbon, which allows it to effectively trap these contaminants.

When water containing chlorine or chloramines passes through the activated carbon filter, these chemicals come into contact with the carbon, leading them to cling to the surface rather than remaining in the water. This mechanism is particularly effective for chlorine, as well as chloramines, due to the strong interactions between these molecules and the carbon's surface.

While absorption involves a substance being taken into the bulk of another material, adsorption is specifically focused on the surface interaction. This distinction is crucial in water treatment applications, as the efficiency of a carbon filter in removing specific contaminants hinges on the principle of adsorption rather than absorption or other processes such as filtration or distillation.