Activated carbon is used for pollution control in which contexts?

• A. It adsorbs inorganic minerals and salts; used in metal corrosion prevention.
• B. It oxidizes pollutants into harmless products; not typical.
• C. It adsorbs organic compounds, tastes, odors, and certain pesticides; effective in drinking water treatment and industrial air filtration.
• D. It actively decomposes pesticides via hydrolysis.

Answer: (C)

Activated carbon works mainly through adsorption, using its highly porous structure to provide a very large surface area where organic molecules can stick to the surface. This makes it especially effective at removing organic pollutants, including tastes and odors and many pesticides, from water and air. In drinking water treatment, it helps remove residual organic compounds that cause bad taste or odor and can trap some pesticides before the water is distributed. In industrial air filtration, it captures volatile organic compounds and odors from the air, improving air quality and protecting processes or occupants.

This is different from methods that oxidize pollutants or chemically break them down. Activated carbon doesn’t rely on chemical oxidation to neutralize contaminants, nor does it typically hydrolyze pesticides. It also isn’t the primary choice for removing inorganic minerals and salts, which are better addressed by other processes like ion exchange or precipitation.