Activated alumina must first be pre-conditioned and acid washed to reduce its internal pH; this step is necessary as NMWs often contain bacteria naturally, with periodic regeneration at pH =13 serving as a bactericidal barrier to stop biofilm accumulation.
To gain more insight into Pb removal mechanisms, a pitcher filter was dissected to isolate carbon and dual cation/anion exchange resin media components for further examination. Furthermore, capacity challenge testing was performed on each media component separately.
What is Activated Alumina?
Activated alumina is a porous form of aluminum oxide with an extremely large surface area, created through heating hydrated alumina to cause water molecules to escape and creates an intricate network of pores and channels with up to 300 square meters per gram surface area. It makes an effective fluoride remover in drinking water applications.
Activated alumina can also serve as a desiccant to dry gases and liquids, and is especially adept at eliminating contaminants like arsenic and fluoride from drinking water. Excess exposure to these dangerous chemicals is harmful to health, leading to dental and skeletal fluorosis. Furthermore, activated alumina is often employed using Claus catalyst technology for gas streams to remove sulfur compounds that might otherwise otherwise linger therein.
Molecular sieve is designed with specific size pores for application-specific use; in comparison, activated alumina offers much wider pores sizes to absorb moisture more effectively than other adsorbents, like molecular sieve.
Adjusting temperature during activation enables us to customize alumina’s pore size for specific applications, resulting in higher capacity and reduced costs. Furthermore, activated alumina can be field regenerated for reuse; DI-tech recommends testing adsorption devices periodically in order to ascertain both their capacity to remove contaminants as well as their capacity. Once they reach their capacity level they should be returned for regeneration by professionals.
How Does Activated Alumina Remove Fluoride?
Activated alumina is well known for its ability to remove fluoride from drinking water, though it also can reduce arsenic, lead and other contaminants from soil and air pollution. Adsorption, the process by which contaminants attach themselves to activated alumina particles’ surfaces and are then desorbed via thermal treatment, allows Activated Alumina to be reused multiple times before needing desorber.
Fluoride-removing properties of alumina include its large surface area and numerous “tunnel-like” pores that capture fluoride and arsenic ions, making this material extremely effective at filtering water samples within 60 minutes of exposure time. In one laboratory experiment, this material removed up to 90% of fluoride present.
Fluoride filters made of activated alumina vary in their effectiveness depending on a variety of factors, including concentration and characteristics of target contaminants, type of activated alumina used, device design and water quality. For optimum performance, feed water should first be pretreated using salt regenerated strong base anion (SBA) resin or dealkalizer, to lower pH levels and bicarbonate alkalinity, leading to greater adsorption capacity and extended filter lifespan.
WECO technical support can assist with creating the ideal backwash schedule based on the amount of water treated and your individual quality standards.
What is the Activated Alumina Filter Pitcher?
An activated alumina filter pitcher removes fluoride, arsenic and other contaminants from water through adsorption. It is an economical and environmentally-friendly alternative to carbon filters that often cost more and need frequent replacement. Made of recycled aluminum ore (bauxite), activated alumina is chemically treated so it becomes highly porous and absorbent; plus it doesn’t add aluminum into water like reverse osmosis does.
This device utilizes an activated alumina granular bed. As water passes through it, contaminants cling to it due to natural chemical attraction and need to be periodically regenerated using acid or base solutions in order to remove impurities. Testing ensures that impurities released do not exceed limits set out by Commission Directive 2003/40/EC on constituents of natural mineral waters, Council Directive 98/83/EC or national applicable legislation.
Alumina can be recycled multiple times before it needs replacing, and does not promote the growth of coliform bacteria, making it a suitable filtration option for most uses.
What is the Activated Alumina Filter Pitcher Cost?
Filtration solutions vary, and finding the ideal water filter pitcher requires careful consideration of budget, needs, and preferences. Selecting an effective filter pitcher will allow you to avoid hazardous impurities while saving money on costly bottled water options over time.
The best activated alumina pitchers offer various features that set them apart from their competition. Look for NSF- or WQA-certified filters to filter your tap water of calcium and magnesium deposits (which cause hard water), chlorine/fluoride added by local water treatment plants, as well as lead/arsenic/chromium contaminants dissolved into it from different sources.
Find pitchers that are both user-friendly and boast high flow rates; these will produce more water per minute, making them perfect for households with multiple users.
Finally, look for retailers with an excellent return policy and warranty to give yourself peace of mind that should anything go wrong with your new activated alumina filter pitcher, it will be covered by a trusted company. Furthermore, retailers with an excellent return policy often offer exclusive deals or bundle deals that cannot be found elsewhere which can save money and maximize returns from your investment.