Specialty Filter Media Used In Water Treatment
by Rami Elias Kremesti M.Sc., CSci, CEnv, CWEM
Introduction
Filtration of water and air uses specialty media. This report compiles the different media used in filtration as well as their applications and suppliers.
Anthracite in MMF
Used in water filtration primarily as a medium for removing suspended solids from drinking, industrial, and wastewater. Its irregular, hard, and dense grains create voids that allow for high filtration speeds and low pressure loss, while also enabling deeper penetration of impurities for longer filter runs before backwashing is needed.
AFM = Activated Filter Media (activated glass media). Allegedly it works better than sand.
Dryden Aqua is the manufacturer of activated filter media (AFM®), which is a glass-based filter media processed to have surface-active properties for enhanced water cleaning performance. It is manufactured from 100% recycled glass through a three-step activation process that makes it highly effective for filtering water, and it is marketed as a direct replacement for sand in existing filters. Their claim to fame:
Prevents biofilm and bio-fouling: The unique activation process makes AFM bio-resistant, preventing the growth of bacteria that can cause “mud-balling” and “channeling” of water through the filter bed.
Improves water quality: It filters down to 1 micron and can remove up to 50% more organic material than sand, resulting in clearer and cleaner water with reduced chlorine demand.
Reduces chlorine by-products: By stopping the biological conversion of urea to ammonia, it significantly reduces the formation of harmful trichloramines, which cause eye and skin irritation.
Filtralite
a brand of expanded clay filter media, the company that makes this media is based in Norway. It is manufactured by Leca Norge AS, a subsidiary of Saint-Gobain. The main production plant is located in Rælingen, Norway. It is high quality and has drinking water certifications.
Filtralite is a lightweight, expanded clay aggregate used as a filter media for a wide range of water and air purification applications, including drinking water, wastewater, and industrial water treatment, as well as air odor control. Its high porosity supports microbial growth for biological filtration, improves contaminant removal, and can enhance capacity and lifespan of filters.
Granular Iron Oxide
Granular ferric hydroxide (GFH) and granular ferric oxide (Bayoxide E33) made by Lanxess.
Phoslock – GFH used in Fisheries. Manufactured by Phoslock Environmental Technologies (PET) based in Australia.
https://petwatersolutions.com/en_gb/products/water-treatment-phoslock-usa/
BioPhree
BioPhree is a technology used to remove and recover phosphate from wastewater, and it is used in various applications including wastewater treatment, surface water treatment, and agricultural runoff management. Its primary functions are to reduce phosphorus concentrations to very low levels, prevent excessive algae growth, and recover phosphorus to be reused, often as a raw material or a fertilizer. It is used to improve water quality, protect ecosystems, and support circular economy goals through resource recovery.
The BioPhree® technology for phosphorus removal in wastewater treatment was developed by the Dutch company Aquacare Europe B.V. (part of Colubris Cleantech) and is jointly introduced to the market in partnership with the Dutch-rooted global engineering firm Royal Haskoning DHV.
Birm
Filter media is made from a natural mineral substrate, such as aluminum silicate or pumice, that is coated with manganese dioxide. It is a granular, black material used in water filtration to remove iron and manganese.
Bone Biochar: https://kremesti.com/biochar-the-water-treatment-miracle-natural-material/
Diatomaceous Earth/Pre-Coat Filters
The best manufacturer depends on your specific needs, but prominent and well-regarded manufacturers include Imerys (Celite), a major supplier of diatomaceous earth (DE) filter aids, and EP Minerals, known for its Celatom DE products, particularly for pools. Other key players with DE and pre-coat filter solutions include ErtelAlsop, which has supplied equipment and filter media since the 1920s, and Veolia Water Technologies, which offers advanced pre-coat filter systems like the Auto-Jet.
Ceramic Membrane Filters and Ceramic Media:
- Their claim to fame is Extreme durability: They are resistant to high temperatures, extreme pH levels, and harsh chemicals that would damage conventional polymeric membranes.
- They have been used in produced water filtration to remove oil from water
https://www.pwnt.com/portfolio/ceramac/
https://liqtech.com/filters/silicon-carbide-membranes/
Ion Exchange Resins
Major companies that produce specialized ion exchange resins include DuPont, Lanxess, Ecolab (through its Purolite brand), Jacobi Carbons Group, Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation, and Sunresin. These companies cater to diverse applications such as water purification, industrial processing, electronics manufacturing, and pharmaceuticals.
The first organic ion exchangers were synthesized in 1935; British chemists Adams and Holmes found that the crushed phonograph records exhibit ion exchange properties.
Reference:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric_Leighton_Holmes
https://agualatinoamerica.com/2014/02/21/a-brief-history-of-ion-exchange-water-treatment/
KDF media
typically made of high-purity copper-zinc granules, owned by Kymera
KDF media is a brand name for a high-purity copper-zinc alloy used in water filtration to remove contaminants like chlorine, heavy metals, and microorganisms. It is an acronym and stands for Kinetic Degradation Fluxion.
It works using an oxidation-reduction (redox) process, where electrons are transferred to convert harmful contaminants into less harmful forms, and it is often used to extend the life of other filters, like activated carbon.
https://kdf.kymerainternational.com/research/success_metal
https://kdf.kymerainternational.com/ ß new discovery even used in water softening
GAC – Granular Activated Carbon
can remove ammonia, COD, lead, chlorine, COD, PFAS, POP’s
Major suppliers:
Desotec
Kemira
Chemviron
Calgon Carbon
Jacobi Group
Eurocarb
Donau Carbon
NORIT
Zeolites:
Zeolites are a family of microporous, crystalline minerals made of aluminum, silicon, and oxygen that have a unique cage-like structure. This structure contains channels and cavities that can hold water and exchangeable ions, which gives zeolites their key properties as adsorbents, catalysts, and ion exchangers. They are used in applications like water purification, petrochemical cracking, and detergents.
Zeolites have detergent properties because they act as ion-exchange agents to soften hard water by capturing calcium and magnesium ions, and they have a porous structure that allows them to adsorb and trap dirt and odor molecules. This prevents dirt from re-depositing on fabrics and helps with water softening, which increases the effectiveness of other detergent ingredients.
Suppliers:
https://www.clariant.com/en/Business-Units/Catalysts/Zeolite-Powders
https://www.clariant.com/en/Company/Clariant-at-a-glance/History
Electro-Positive Alumina Fiber Filters
Electro-positive alumina fiber filters are a type of advanced filtration media that utilize electrostatic attraction (adsorption) to remove submicron and nanoscale contaminants, including viruses, bacteria, and heavy metals, from water and air.
Key Characteristics and Function
Mechanism: Unlike conventional filters that rely solely on physical sieving, these filters have a high positive zeta potential (around +50 mV at pH 7) which electrostatically attracts negatively charged particles suspended in the fluid. This allows them to capture particles much smaller than their physical pore size.
Material: The active component consists of nano-alumina fibers (mineral boehmite, AlOOH) typically 2 nm in diameter, which are often grafted onto a microglass fiber or cellulose matrix for structural support.
Special Applications:
Reduces fouling and biofouling in RO.
Suppliers:
Argonide and Ahlstrom
Ultra Filtration
Leading ultrafiltration (UF) suppliers include Toray, DuPont, Veolia, and SUEZ for large-scale municipal and industrial projects, while companies like Koch Membrane Systems and Alfa Laval are strong in specialized and tailored solutions. Other reputable suppliers are Pentair, Hydranautics, Berghof, and Pall Corporation, each with a wide range of membrane technologies and system solutions for various applications. The “best” supplier depends on your specific needs, so consider factors like application, scale, and support when making a choice.
Nano Filtration
I first came across nano filtration at the Etihad Sugar Refinery in Babylon, Iraq in 2014. The membranes were used to recover caustic brine spent after the regeneration of the Novasep sugar syrup decolorization ion exchange columns. What they accomplished was to separate the organic molecules from the caustic brine which could be reused. Nano-filtration can also separate hardness from water. The performance test that I did at the factory was to pass milk through the NF system to separate the whey and protein in milk from water. I could turn milk into water !!!
Activated Alumina
Activated alumina is a highly porous, high-surface-area form of aluminum oxide (Al2O3) used primarily as a powerful desiccant (drying agent) and adsorbent for removing moisture and impurities like fluoride and arsenic from gases, liquids, and air. Created by heating aluminum hydroxide to remove water and create tunnel-like pores, it’s used in water treatment, air drying, natural gas dehydration, and as a catalyst in various industrial processes. Activated alumina filters excel at removing specific inorganic contaminants from water, primarily fluoride, but also highly effective for arsenic, selenium, and thallium, as well as chromium.
Major suppliers include:
Honeywell International Inc. (U.S.): A top-tier supplier known for advanced adsorption and catalyst technologies used in industrial drying and petrochemical processes.
BASF SE (Germany): A major player that recently collaborated with Shell to deploy its specialized “Sorbead” adsorption technology.
Evonik Industries (Germany): Significantly expanded its market position by acquiring the Porocel Group and investing in new alumina plants in Asia to support electric vehicle battery production.
Axens (France): Provides comprehensive solutions for refining and petrochemicals, often partnering with regional distributors like Nippon Light Metal Company.
Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd. (Japan): A leader in high-purity alumina for technical applications, including electronics and lithium-ion batteries. Alumina (Al2O3) is used in lithium-ion batteries primarily to enhance safety and performance by coating separators and electrodes, preventing short circuits, improving thermal stability, and suppressing dendrite growth, leading to longer life and better cycling.
CHALCO (China Aluminum Corporation of ): One of the world’s largest overall alumina producers, with its advanced material subsidiaries being major suppliers of activated grades.
Conclusion
Filtration media are very varied and they serve different functions in the process of water and waste water treatment. They play a very important function in protecting the environment and helping industry function more efficiently.
About the Author:
Rami Elias Kremesti is a UK chartered chemistry and water treatment specialist. He is passionate about protecting the environment and raising awareness about environmental pollution.
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