Water Filtration Atlanta removes unwanted chemicals and particles from the water to produce better-tasting drinking water. Filtration also helps many industrial operations flow smoothly and more efficiently. For example, when sand and other debris get brought up on oil rigs, filters help get those particles out before they can cause pressure systems to malfunction.
The most familiar type of water filtration, mechanical filters physically strain out solid particles. This is the first step in most aquarium and pond filter systems, and it helps to remove fish excrement, uneaten food, or dust that might otherwise disrupt the biological filtration system. It also works well to prevent overgrowth of nitrite and ammonia, which can impair the efficiency of biofilters.
Most comprehensive mechanical filtration solutions will use surface and deep filtration to ensure that all particulates have been caught. Surface filtration works like the first few sieves in a series, where the filter traps large contaminants before reaching the more delicate part of the tank. On the other hand, deep filtration tackles the more challenging aspect of the process, when contaminants become extraordinarily small and difficult to stop with a standard mesh or sponge.
Most comprehensive mechanical filtration systems trap these very fine contaminants by incorporating adsorption filters. The adsorption filter uses a weak electrical current to “magnetize” the remaining contaminants and cause them to cling to the filter, so even at a molecular level, contaminants won’t escape the filter.
All mechanical filters are rated according to something called micron size, and it is this rating that determines how big or small of a particle the filter can capture. Typically, a filter will be rated to catch one, five, ten, or twenty microns of material. The bigger jumps in filter ratings are generally optional, and most filter owners stick with the ten- and five-micron range.
Most manufacturers of mechanical filters produce a wide variety of different designs to choose from. Some are very uniform and look like a mesh or sifter screen. Others are more irregular and might resemble a bed of sand or a sponge. Choosing a filter that suits your needs is important; remember that it will need to be cleaned or replaced regularly. This will ensure that the proper amount of free-floating waste is removed and that adsorption filters can work as effectively as possible.
Unlike mechanical filtration, which removes contaminants by forcing them through a filter medium, UV water purification disinfects by shining a light on the water. This method is especially effective for bacteria and viruses. The ultraviolet rays destroy the organisms’ DNA, making them unable to reproduce or harm humans when they come into contact with them. UV systems are ideal for businesses that require a safe water supply, such as restaurants and hospitals. They can also be used to sterilize equipment.
For this type of filtration to work, the water must be free of impurities like turbidity and color. A prefiltration system must be installed before the water reaches the UV purification chamber. In addition, the UV light is heated by electricity, so it cannot be used during a power outage.
This type of filtration is not a substitute for traditional methods, but it can be added to any water treatment system to provide additional protection against harmful microorganisms. For example, if your city water plant issues a boil water advisory for your area, UV purification can help keep your family safe and give you peace of mind while waiting for the advisory to expire.
Several different types of UV filters on the market suit various applications. For example, a UV filter with a higher intensity is used to protect bottled water from bacteria, while low-intensity filters are ideal for treating municipal water.
In addition, specialized UV filters are used in specific industries. For instance, a yellow filter uses different frequencies of ultraviolet light to clean water from dyes and inks. This is useful for creating a safe workspace for contact proofing, screen printing, and plate making. UV filtration should be combined with a sediment and carbon filter to achieve the best results. This ensures that any remaining toxins are removed from the water before exposure to UV radiation. This helps to prolong the life of your water filters and reduce maintenance costs. APEC offers a comprehensive line of UV systems for point-of-entry and whole-house filtration applications.
Carbon is one of the most popular and effective filtration methods available. This is because it can remove a wide range of contaminants through adsorption. This is when the pollutants are attracted to the surface of the carbon, much like iron filings are attracted to a magnet. The adsorption process allows carbon to remove many chemicals and bacteria from water, including chlorine, herbicides, pesticides, VOCs, hydrogen sulfide gas, nitrates, and residual disinfectants. The adsorption process is the basis for many water purification processes, including reverse osmosis drinking water systems, refrigerator filters, backpacking water filters, and shower filters.
Activated carbon comprises tiny particles, or pore structures, that have been treated to increase their surface area. This treatment is done by injection with heat or steam, which opens up millions of small pores on the surface of the carbon. This increases the surface area of the carbon so that it can trap more impurities. Carbon is also highly soluble in water, making it easy to use as a filter medium.
The most common carbon filter is granular activated carbon (GAC), which is used in the adsorption stage of many water filtration systems. GAC is available in various particle sizes, with the pore size determining how much water it can absorb. The pore size of GAC is determined using an iodine or molasses test. The higher the iodine or molasses numbers, the more carbon surface area and the greater its adsorption capacity.
Another type of carbon filtration is activated catalytic carbon, which uses a different chemical process to remove chloramines, the combination of ammonia and chlorine used by some municipal water treatment plants as disinfectants. The catalytic carbon chemically alters the chlorine molecules, converting them into salt. This is an effective way to eliminate the chloramines in public water supplies that still use it as a disinfectant while protecting consumers from their harmful side effects.
Water filtration systems help keep fluids like water and chemicals free of unwanted particles associated with health hazards. These systems are very important for businesses and homes requiring high-quality water. They also help to meet the standards set by environmental safety and health agencies.
One method of removing pollutants from water is through distillation. This technique involves boiling the water and capturing the steam in another container. This helps to remove any harmful bacteria that are found in the water, and it also helps to eliminate other contaminants. This process is one of the oldest methods of ensuring your drinking water is safe. There is evidence of it being used as early as c. 200 CE, and it continued to be operated by chemists throughout the centuries.
Distillation is a separation technique that takes advantage of the difference in boiling points between different components of a mixture. It is performed by heating a mixture of liquids to their boiling point and then collecting the vapor from the top of a flask. A published vapor-liquid equilibrium diagram can be used to identify the liquid and vapor composition at each temperature, making it possible to determine when the distillation should be stopped.
This simple way of filtering water can be done at home with little equipment. This filtration system is especially useful for those living in areas with hard water containing minerals and other elements such as magnesium, calcium, and barium. These substances can wreak havoc on pipes and other household appliances and cause health problems, such as gastrointestinal issues or skin irritation.
A drawback of this type of filtration is that it can be difficult to maintain properly because of the potential for clogging and sediment build-up in the system. Changing the filtration medium regularly is best, which can be easily accomplished by purchasing new filters from a water filtration company.
There are several other filtration methods, such as reverse osmosis and nanofiltration. However, distillation continues to be the most popular, and it is a very effective way to remove impurities from water.