Catalytic Carbon and Chloramine Removal: Power Without Impregnation
City networks are increasingly replacing chlorine with chloramine as the disinfectant: more stable, longer lasting, fewer by-products. But that stability makes chloramine a difficult target for filters. Standard activated carbon’s performance against chloramine is disappointing; the solution is called catalytic carbon.
What is catalytic carbon?
Catalytic carbon is carbon whose surface chemistry has been deliberately modified during production: nitrogen-enriched surface structures give the carbon the ability to act like a catalyst. This is the core difference from impregnated carbon — no foreign chemical is loaded onto the surface; the carbon’s own surface is made reactive. There is therefore no concept of chemical depletion, and it is extra safe for food contact.
How is chloramine destroyed?
Standard carbon merely tries to adsorb chloramine and saturates quickly. Catalytic carbon chemically decomposes it: the molecule splits on the surface into chloride ion and nitrogen. Since the carbon is not consumed in the reaction, the same site works again and again — capacity rises to tens of times that of standard carbon.
Peroxide number: the measure of catalytic strength
The practical benchmark for comparing catalytic activity is the peroxide number: the carbon’s speed at decomposing hydrogen peroxide is measured. Lower minute values mean stronger catalytic activity. When purchasing, always request the peroxide number alongside the iodine number; they measure different abilities.
Applications
- Dialysis water: chloramine is a serious risk for dialysis patients; catalytic carbon is the standard for these lines
- Beverage production: prevents chloramine-driven taste defects in beer and soft drink water
- Aquariums and live transport: safe removal of chloramine, toxic to fish
- H2S well water: the catalytic surface oxidizes H2S away
For comparison with impregnated alternatives, see our impregnated carbon guide. If chloramine is your problem, request the data sheet of our catalytic product — we send it with the peroxide number included.
