Frequently Asked Questions

What is activated charcoal and why is it used in filters?

Charcoal is carbon. Activated charcoal is charcoal that has been treated with oxygen to open up millions of tiny pores between the carbon atoms.
The use of special manufacturing techniques results in highly porous charcoals that have surface areas of 300-2,000 square meters per gram. These so-called active, or activated, charcoals are widely used to adsorb odorous or colored substances from gases or liquids.
The word adsorb is important here. When a material adsorbs something, it attaches to it by chemical attraction. The huge surface area of activated charcoal gives it countless bonding sites. When certain chemicals pass next to the carbon surface, they attach to the surface and are trapped.

Activated charcoal is good at trapping other carbon-based impurities (“organic” chemicals), as well as things like chlorine. Many other chemicals are not attracted to carbon at all — sodium, nitrates, etc. — so they pass right through. This means that an activated charcoal filter will remove certain impurities while ignoring others. It also means that, once all of the bonding sites are filled, an activated charcoal filter stops working. At that point you must replace the filter.

What Contaminants Do Activated Carbon Filters Remove From Water?
Activated carbon (AC) filtration is most effective in removing organic contaminants from water. Organic substances are composed of two basic elements, carbon and hydrogen. Because organic chemicals are often responsible for taste, odor, and color problems, AC filtration can generally be used to improve aesthetically objectionable water. AC filtration will also remove chlorine. AC filtration is recognized by the Water Quality Association as an acceptable method to maintain certain drinking water contaminants within the limits of the EPA National Drinking Water Standards

Why Do Water Testing?
Regular water testing is recommended to reduce the risk of consuming contaminated water. Many contaminants are not detected by the senses. Even if contamination can be detected by color, smell, or taste, only a laboratory test can tell you the quantity of contaminant actually present. Testing should always be done by a reputable or certified laboratory. Prior to sending in your water sample, determine what you want your water tested for. Contact the laboratory to find out how to take a proper water sample. Remember, there are thousands of substances that can contaminate your water, and they all have slightly different chemical behavior. Proper sampling and handling for one type of contaminant may cause erroneous results for other types of contaminants.

Once you have the laboratory results in hand, make sure you understand the numbers. If you don’t fully understand the results, don’t assume anything. The testing laboratory will be able to answer any questions you may have regarding your test results. Understanding the laboratory results will help you select the best and most economical water treatment system. Sometimes just a single piece of equipment, such as an AC filter, is all that is necessary to treat the problem. Other times you may need completely different equipment or possibly a combination of equipment. It all depends on the type and amount of contaminants present in your water.

What is KDF-55 And Why Do You Need it?

KDF55 was designed specifically for removing or reducing chlorine and water-soluble heavy metals. It controls scale, bacteria and algae, even in hot water. KDF 55 process media can remove up to 99% of water-soluble lead, mercury, nickel, chromium and other dissolved metals. KDF55 is effective in controlling the buildup of bacteria making them ideal for use in GAC (granular Activated Carbon) media beds.

The Patented KDF55 Process Media is 100% recyclable and contains no chemical additives making it a green product. And using KDF55 with carbon eliminates the need for backwashing saving water and electricity. Look for systems that combine both KDF55 and Carbon for a great environmentally friendly way to filter your water.

What is KDF?

Kinetic Degradation Fluxion (KDF) is a high-purity copper-zinc formulation that uses a basic process known as redox (oxidation/reduction) to remove chlorine, lead, mercury, iron, and hydrogen sulfide from water supplies.

What is KDF 55?

Was designed specifically for removing or reducing chlorine and water-soluble heavy metals. It controls scale, bacteria and algae, even in hot water.

What is KDF 85?

Removes or reduces iron and hydrogen sulfide from municipal or other water supplies. Also controls scale, bacteria and algae.

How does KDF Work?

In short, the KDF redox process works by exchanging electrons with contaminants. This “give and take” of electrons converts many contaminants into harmless components. During this reaction, electrons are transferred between molecules, and new elements are created. Some harmful contaminants are changed into harmless components. Others are electrochemically bound to the KDF media.

What Contaminants Does KDF Remove?

KDF process media will reduce or remove chlorine, iron, hydrogen sulfide, lead, mercury, calcium carbonate, magnesium, chromium, bacteria, algae, and fungi. Redox media removes up to 98% of water-soluble cations (positively-charged ions) of lead, mercury, copper, nickel, chromium, and other dissolved metals. In most cases, more than 98% of chlorine is removed if operated within recommended flow rates.

Will KDF remove Iron from the Water?

Redox media alloys function as catalysts to change soluble ferrous cations (positively-charged ions) into insoluble ferric hydroxide, which can be removed with regular backwashing. With enough oxygen dissolved in the water, iron removal rates of 98 percent or better are common.

How Does KDF Remove Chlorine from the Water?

High-purity copper-zinc redox media consistently remove 99% of free chlorine by electrochemically reducing dissolved chlorine gas to water-soluble chloride ions.

How does KDF Remove Hydrogen Sulfide from the Water?

When hydrogen sulfide contaminated water enters the KDF filter, the copper in the KDF media loses an electron and the sulfur gains an electron and copper sulfide and water are formed. The copper sulfide is insoluble in water and can be backwashed off the KDF filter media

Will the KDF process media remove heavy metals such as lead from the water?

KDF media remove up to 98% of water-soluble cations (positively-charged ions) of lead, mercury, copper, nickel, chromium, and other dissolved metals. When filtered through KDF media, soluble lead cations are reduced to insoluble lead atoms, which are electroplated onto the surface of the media. Other heavy metals bond to the media and may be recovered when the exhausted media pass through a copper smelter.

Will the KDF process media control microorganism growth in the water filters?

KDF media are incorporated into carbon blocks and other matrices for bacteria control and scale reduction. The oxidation/reduction potential (ORP) shift by a factor of -300mV or more for water filtered through redox media controls microorganism growth. Treating water reduces bacteria and other microorganisms by disrupting electron transport, causing cellular damage. KDF process media also kill bacteria by direct electrochemical contact and by the flash formation of hydroxyl radicals and hydrogen peroxide, both of which interfere with a microorganism’s ability to function.

Will the KDF filter systems add any toxic substances to the water?

KDF process media are completely safe. KDF media meet EPA and Food and Drug Administration standards for levels of zinc and copper in potable water, so the process is not toxic and does not cause any adverse side effects. You may not even realize that KDF process media are working for you. KDF media is the core product of many filtration systems, and can be used in conjunction with other products to provide superior purification.