Activated alumina is a highly porous form of aluminum oxide that’s safe to use as a fluoride and arsenic removal solution in water supplies. This form of aluminum oxide works by chemically reacting with contaminants before physically absorbing them through chemical reaction and absorption processes.
Effective fluoride and arsenic treatments depend on their pH levels; optimal performance requires pretreatments that lower source water pH by at least 2.5 points for optimal performance.
NSF Approved
This premium whole house fluoride filter cartridge contains approximately 60 pounds of high-grade NSF certified water filtration media and effectively filters fluoride (commonly found in city/municipally treated water), sediment and particulate*, cysts*, copepods*, chlorine*, chloramines, ethylhexylacrylate isobutylacrylate vinyl chloride dioxins as well as numerous other contaminants and harmful chemicals found in tap water supplies.
Fluoride removal is accomplished using NSF/ANSI 61 certified activated alumina, which has many tunnel-like pores to absorb fluoride and arsenic, while also acting as an excellent metal-adsorbent such as lead and copper.
Our alumina is pre-conditioned, meaning it has undergone an acid washing treatment to lower its internal pH level and increase arsenic and fluoride adsorption capacity. Untreated alumina’s capacity decreases considerably at high pH levels due to reduced arsenic and fluoride uptake capacity.
Field regenerating of this alumina can be accomplished using a dilute solution of NaOH to strip away contaminants, followed by rinsing with fresh feed water and safe, caustic- and acid-free chemicals. Although not hazardous waste, silica-containing alumina should be handled according to applicable local, state, federal and environmental regulations.
High Capacity
Activated alumina is one of the most efficient methods of fluoride removal from water, also helping reduce arsenic and lead levels in drinking water sources. Furthermore, the Environmental Protection Agency recommends activated alumina as an effective method to mitigate toxicities that leach into drinking water sources from mining sites such as Thallium contamination.
This filter media is constructed of microporous aluminum oxide material with an extensive surface area, making it an excellent choice for liquid purification and adsorption. Specifically, its large surface area enables effective absorption, filtration and purification processes such as fluoride reduction from 10ppm down to less than 1ppm as well as significant arsenic and lead reduction from well water supplies.
Furthermore, activated alumina filters can bind with other contaminants such as mercury, selenium and other heavy metals, making it not only safe but also biodegradable compared to some other filters that release their bound contaminants into the environment during disposal. However, it must be properly recycled or disposed of to avoid contamination of drinking water supplies or landfills.
Activated alumina is produced from natural materials such as bauxite. Once mined, this material must be processed through calcination at high temperatures before becoming tasteless and odorless alumina (mainly aluminium oxide, Al2O3) that meets national food safety and California Proposition 65 standards. Following treatment with appropriate regeneration chemicals to renew its absorbency abilities.
Low Maintenance
Activated alumina absorbs contaminants without discharging them back into the water during disposal, as well as not producing harmful byproducts like other filters do, such as ion exchange and catalytic carbon filters. As such, activated alumina is an ideal choice for filtering arsenic and fluoride from drinking water sources.
Most activated alumina devices consist of a packed bed of granulated active alumina that works to remove or reduce contaminants in water, typically those below pH 8.5. They’re effective against arsenic, fluoride, selenium and iron; pretreatment with acid neutralizers may also help maximize removal efficiency.
One key advantage of this type of filter is its ability to treat water efficiently even at lower household pressure levels, and reduce unpleasant tastes and odors such as chlorine and hydrogen sulfide. It has become an increasingly popular option.
Regenerating this type of water filter regularly is necessary to ensure its continued functionality, using a chemical solution which strips contaminant-laden alumina plates clean by neutralizing their compounds with bleach. Regeneration can usually be performed at home; manufacturers will often recommend maintenance schedules based on treated gallons or time spent in operation; testing must take place regularly to ensure safe levels are achieved, cartridge replacement may require more attention than an in-counter system and more maintenance overall than what a countertop system needs.
Easy Installation
Whole house systems deliver clean water directly to all faucets and showerheads without decreasing pressure, without needing additional plumbing connections or installing separate filters for each fixture. Installation is generally easy and installation typically only requires basic plumbing connections – as an added benefit they reduce a wide range of chemicals and organic contaminants from your water source – such as heavy metals, chlorine, taste/odor issues, herbecides/pesticides as well as radioactive particles like uranium/lead/arsenic levels in your supply.
Activated alumina (the chemical substance that forms sapphires and rubies) boasts an exceptional surface area-to-weight ratio, with tiny tunnel-like pores filled with water passing through its granules, attracting pollutants that bind with it and are removed from your drinking water supply – most notably fluoride and arsenic.
As the harmful pollutants bind with activated alumina during disposal, they won’t reenter the environment when being removed – one reason why activated alumina treatment methods are considered safe and eco-friendly solutions.
WECO recommends pre-treating feed water with salt regenerated strong base anion (SBA) resin as an optimal means to maximize its efficiency when treating it with an alumina filter, in order to optimize performance. Doing so will decrease pH levels and bicarbonate alkalinity levels, greatly improving how fluoride and arsenic can be removed through an alumina filter, while simultaneously helping extend its life by decreasing backwash cycles.