What is Water Filtration?
Water filtration is a process of reducing the number of impurities in water. It can be done using a physical barrier or a chemical or biological process. Some types of water filtration include reverse osmosis, point of entry, and multiple filtration stages. Read on to learn more about these processes and how they can benefit you.
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Reverse osmosis
Reverse osmosis is one of the best ways to purify water. Its benefits include removing toxins, heavy metals, and other contaminants. It is also economical and reliable. It is often used in the Navy and NASA to purify wastewater and reuse it as filtered water.
Multiple filtration stages
Water filtration can consist of multiple stages. The first stage is coagulation, followed by filtration. This is usually done for waters with high particulate matter. The second stage is conventional filtration, which is typically applied in waters with low turbidity. This method is used when the turbidity of the water is less than 10 NTU, with peaks below 40 NTU. The total organic carbon in the water should be below 2 mg/L. In addition, it is important to choose a media with large grains to reduce head loss.
Chemical filtration
Chemical filtration is a useful tool for controlling the amount of gaseous pollutants in water supplies. Its process creates hundreds of tiny pores that trap pollutants. Activated carbon is the most common chemical filter media. It is inexpensive and readily available. It is a pore-size material that has been refined to create hundreds of tiny pores. These pores are so small that you cannot even see them, but they capture pollutants. Some brands use artificial zeolite, which has a similar effect.
Biological filtration
One of the most important elements of a good biofilter is the source of nitrifying bacteria, as well as the conditions necessary for these bacteria to grow. In addition to bacteria, the biofilter should also contain a source of nutrients that promote the growth of nitrifying bacteria. This method is most effective if there are no animals living in the system, as adding nutrients to the water can cause concentrations of ammonia and nitrite, which are toxic to many cultured species.
Physical filtration
Filtration removes particles suspended in water through a number of processes. These processes include surface capture, ingestion, deposition within a filter medium, and flocculation. Different types of filters have different modes of capture.