Water Filters – A water filter removes impurities from the water by the use of a fine physical barrier, chemical process or in some cases, a biological process. Water Filters clean the water to various extents for irrigation of farms, drinking water, aquariums, and swimming pools. Some of the technologies used in water filters are listed below.
Reverse osmosis water filter – Reverse osmosis is the process of forcing a solvent coming from a region of high solute concentration into a semipermeable membrane and then to a region of low solute concentration. Reveerse osmosis requires the application of pressure that is in excess of the osmotic pressure. The membranes that is used for reverse osmosis water filters have a dense barrier layer embedded in polymer matrix where most separation of water and suspended particle occurs. Mosf of the time, the membrane is designed only to allow water to pass through. The dense layer prevents the passage of solutes (such as salt ions). Reverse Osmosis requires that a high pressure be exerted on the high solute concentration side of the membrane, this pressure is typically 2–17 bar (30–250 psi) for fresh and brackish water, and 40–70 bar (600–1000 psi) for seawater.
Carbon water filter – This type of water filter uses a piece of activated carbon to remove water impurities and contaminants by utilizing chemical adsorption. The carbon filters is designed in such a way that it provide a large section of surface area. The large surface area allow contaminants to be exposed as much as possible to the filter media. One pound (454g) of activated carbon have a surface area that is approximately 100 acres (1 km²/kg). The carbon is usually activated with a positive charge thus it attracts negatively charged water contaminants. Carbon filtering is usually used for water purification but this technology is also used in air purifiers. Carbon water filters are very effective in removing chlorine, sediment, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from the water. However, Carbon water filter are not very effective in removing minerals, salts, and dissolved inorganic compounds like Calcium, Sodium etc. The typical particle sizes that are removed by carbon filters ranges from 0.5 to 50 micrometres.
Ceramic water filter – Ceramic water filter are inexpensive but effective type of water filter. They rely on the small pore size of the ceramic material to filter out suspended particles and even bacteria. Newer ceramic water filters (CWF) are treated with silver. Ceramic filters of this form that will not leach away from prolonged use. The silver also helps in killing or incapacitating bacteria. Silver also prevents the growth of mold and algae on the body of the water filter. The two types of Ceramic Water Filter are pot type and candle type. Ceramic Water Filter systems consist of a porous ceramic filter that is placed on top of a plastic or ceramic receptacle. Contaminated water or unpurified water is poured in the filter, then water passes through the filter into the receptacle that sits below. The receptacle is usually fitted with a tap for ease of draining the filtered water. Water contaminants that are larger than the pores of the ceramic water filter will remain in the top half of the unit, The contaminants be cleaned by brushing the insides of the top section with a soft brush.
Some Common Types of Water Filters
1. Camping water filter – A good example of Camping water filter is Aquasafe Straw. Turn bacteria contaminated water into clean water simply by sipping through the best portable and or pocket-sized, ultra light camping filter on the market, and the kids will think it’s fun – so no nagging needed. The AquaSafeCorp, products are ingeniously designed to trap dangerous substances by filtering water through a 0.2 micron filtration membrane. as in AquaSafeStraw OR 0.01 micron as in AquaSafeStraw+ and AquaSafeBottle+. With proper use, it will filter up to 500 liters (132 gallons) OR 1000 litres (264 gallons) depending on product selected, ensuring you have clean camping and hiking water to drink.
2. Refrigerator water filter – This is a small water filter used inside a refrigerator. Refrigerator water filters are very simple in design just like the water filter pitcher and faucet water filter. More expensive brands of refrigerator water filter will deodorize and remove suspended particles in the water.
3. Replacement water filter – Water filters that are intended to replace your original water filter comes from different manufacturers and some of them does not come in standard sizes. It is best to get a replacement water filter that is exactly the same as the original. There are some cheaper second source replacement water filters that are made in China but it would still be best to use the filter coming from the original manufacturer.
4. Whole house water filter – The whole house water filter is a good option if you can afford it. It uses a large water filter that can filter water at several gallons per minute.
5. Water filter cartridge – Water filter cartridges comes in various shapes and sizes depending on the specific application of the water filter. Most water filter cartridges fit on standard sized water filter fittings on pipes.
6. Water filter pitcher – Pitcher water filter is the most popular and least expensive water filter you can find. It is essentially a water pitcher in which the water flows though a filter as you pour the water out of the pitcher.
7. Faucet water filter – Some faucet water filter adds fruit flavors to your tap water with a push of a button. The most common faucet water filter uses activated carbon to remove odor and suspended particulates on tap water.
Popular Water Filter Brands
1. Brita water filters – For almost 40 years BRITA has been among the leading experts in the field of water optimization. The family business, founded in 1966, has become two global companies which manufactures water filtration products for household and professional applications.
2. GE water filters – You can replace filters in seconds with the GE Twist & Lock design. Just twist the filter a quarter turn and it locks into place. No tools are needed and there’s no mess. Look for the Twist & Lock logo on GE packaging.
3. Frigidaire water filters –
4. Everpure water filters – Founded in 1933, Everpure has grown to become recognized as a worldwide leader in quality, reliability and innovation, with facilities across the globe. It’s led to innovations like proprietary Micro-Pure® precoat technology that provides higher levels of filtration and reliability. Everpure pioneered quick-change heads that make changing cartridges both simple and sanitary, multi-head systems to meet the needs of high volume applications, and reverse osmosis systems that filter out particles as small as 0.00001 microns.
5. PUR water filters – All of PUR’s water filters have The Automatic Safety Monitorª Gauge (ASM¨) technology which monitors filter usage. Once the red bar appears in the ASM window on the faucet mount, countertop and undersink models, the filtered water will slow or completely shut off, indicating filter cartridge replacement is needed. |
