Common water filter media types

Choosing the right media filtration systems will benefit you in different ways. But the process of selecting the right media filter can be challenging. There are multiple filter designs on the market to choose from. Different types of filter media can offer you their unique performance.

Filtration media

This can be a coarse mineral, fine powder, substrate, or granular substrate that resides in a housing, filter cartridge, or media tank which filters water when it flows through the system. A filtration media may remove impurities of specific forms or sizes depending on their makeup.

When water is passed through the media at a controlled rate, the media holds the impurities that it is designed to remove. Most of the solid matter is captured by the media. The water being treated is allowed to pass through.

Filtration systems and media filters explained

Filter media is a material within a filtration system that captures impurities from water. A filtration system is the type of unit that houses, contains, or manipulates the substrate or media. The media and the unit design dictate the processes that happen inside the filtration system.

When buying a media filtration system, it is crucial to examine the system. You should also examine the media it contains. Keep in mind that some media are better than others at removing certain impurities. You should also understand that some media are better quality overall. Knowing this will help you choose the right filtration systems.

Activated carbon

This is the most common and widely used filter media. It is produced from organic material. The material has natural high carbon content such as charcoal, coconut shell or wood. The material is heated under controlled conditions to produce char like product. It is not burned as some people would think. The char can be converted or activated into a porous material that captures certain contaminants and impurities in adsorption.

The quality of this material depends on several factors – the process by which it is made and its base material. Wood is the least popular option for this media, while coal or charcoal are popular. Coconut shell is a commonly used material. It has the benefit of having fewer effects on the environment. It is also a high-quality material.

Activated carbon can be found in a wide range of systems such as water bottle filters, water pitcher filters, under-sink water treatment units, reverse osmosis systems, and whole-home filters.

A lot of people use activated carbon to remove chlorine and lead from water. It can also be used to remove other impurities such as copper.

Catalytic carbon

Activated carbon and catalytic carbon might have similar names but they are different in their removal capabilities when used in media filtration systems. Catalytic carbon is a form of highly activated granulated carbon. This carbon has been surface modified and has improved abilities to promote chemical reactions. Catalytic carbon is used to filter out chloramine. This is a chemical compound made of ammonia and chlorine.