If sufficient amounts of activated carbon in powdered form are used, what process removes almost all tastes and odors from water?

Activated carbon in powdered form effectively utilizes the process of adsorption to remove tastes and odors from water. This is primarily due to the large surface area of activated carbon, which provides numerous active sites for contaminants in water to adhere to. During adsorption, molecules of taste and odor compounds are attracted to and bind to the surface of the carbon particles, leading to their removal from the water.

Adsorption differs from absorption; while absorption involves a substance being taken up into the volume of another substance, in adsorption, the molecules adhere only to the surface. The high porosity and surface area of activated carbon make it particularly effective in capturing and trapping organic compounds, including those responsible for undesirable tastes and odors. Additionally, this method is commonly used in water treatment processes due to its efficiency and versatility in handling a range of organic pollutants.