Carbon adsorption is a water-treatment process in which impurities are removed by passing water through finely powdered or granular activated carbon. The carbon’s enormous internal surface area traps organic compounds, chlorine, pesticides, and off-flavours through adsorption onto its pore surfaces. Food and beverage manufacturers use it to polish process water, decolourise sugar syrups, and remove taints that would spoil product flavour. Filters must be replaced or regenerated before breakthrough, when the carbon saturates and contaminants pass through. It is a physical rather than chemical treatment, valued for removing what conventional filtration and disinfection leave behind.