Filter Cartridge Consumables
Filter cartridges are a very important part of any water purification system. They are used to filter out sediments from water. They are available in a variety of different designs and micron ratings.
These filters can be plain or pleated. The pleated design has a sleeve of filter media in support of a core.
Water Filter Cartridges
Cartridges are inserted into a filter housing that is installed in your home, office or cottage to remove unwanted impurities. These impurities include sediment, taste and odor, hardness and bacteria to produce healthy clean water. Cartridge filters are easy to change and provide a cost-effective alternative to purchasing bottled water while also providing an environmentally friendly solution.
Cartridge Filters are a key component in any water filtration system. They are available in a variety of sizes and micron ratings to suit any water filtration system. Depending on the filtration system they can be used with different types of media for specific contaminant removal. These include granular activated carbon (GAC), catalytic carbon GAC, Ion Exchange resin, and Eagle Redox Alloy.
Sediment Filters remove sand and rust from water as it travels through aging pipes to your home or office. They are very effective in reducing the appearance of turbidity that gives the water a cloudy texture.
Activated Carbon Filters are highly effective in removing chlorine, chloramines, objectionable tastes and odors, organic chemicals and VOCs. They are made from coconut shells which are a sustainable resource and provide superior chemical absorption compared to coal-based carbon. These carbon filters are available in a wide range of heights and micron ratings to fit industry-standard sized cartridge housings. Activated Carbon Filters can be used in conjunction with a number of other filtration methods such as reverse osmosis and ultrafiltration.
Carbon Filter Cartridges
Carbon water filters work to improve the taste, odor and purity of your water. They can be used alone or in conjunction with sediment filters to help you enjoy pure, clean drinking water. They are typically used in point-of-entry (POE) systems or installed under Filter cartridge consumables sinks to remove contaminants such as chlorine, benzene, lead and heavy organic compounds.
Unlike granular activated carbon (GAC) filters that contain loose granules of activated charcoal, carbon block cartridges are molded or extruded into solid blocks that have a higher surface area than GAC cartridges to increase the effectiveness and longevity of the filter. Carbon block water filter cartridges are usually made of a mixture of carbon, a binder, and sometimes specialized media that can target specific contaminants. The binder is specially designed to hold the carbon in a solid form, but not occlude the pores like the carbon granules do, resulting in faster adsorption and generally two to four times more adsorption capacity than the equivalent volume of granular activated carbon.
Our AP017 Cartridges feature a 5 micron prefilter, followed by a bed of high-activity coconut shell carbon and downstream carbon-retaining polypropylene medium. This type of carbon is renewable and doesn’t cause allergic reactions like bituminous coal or wood-based carbons do. It is also silver impregnated for bacteriostatic effects. Like the GAC filter, it is a good choice for removing chlorine and reducing odors, as well as particulates, dirt, sand, sediment, rust and other heavy organics from your water.
GAC Filter Cartridges
GAC (granular activated carbon) filters are used to reduce chlorine taste and odor, and remove organic chemicals such as chloramines, industrial solvents, herbicides, insecticides, gasoline, volatile organic compounds, and other chemicals that can cause unpleasant tastes or odors. Unlike carbon block filters, which are made of ground and compressed carbon, GAC filters use loose granules that are less dense, making them more effective at absorbing contaminants.
When treated water flows through a granular carbon cartridge, chloramines in the water come into contact with the activated charcoal and undergo a chemical reaction that eliminates them. They can also be used to reduce the odor of hydrogen water filter membrane sulfide, which causes the notorious rotten egg smell in some municipal drinking water supplies.
GAC water filter cartridges are commonly used in under sink and countertop water filtration systems, as well as some reverse osmosis systems and recreational vehicle filtration systems. They can also be combined with KDF (Kinetic Degradation Fluxion) for a more comprehensive water filtration system that eliminates heavy metals, such as lead, from drinking water. Like other carbon filter cartridges, they are best suited for well or city tap water. If your system uses a carbon GAC cartridge, be sure to change it at least twice per year. This will ensure that it is soaking contaminants properly to maximize its effectiveness.
Chemical Filter Cartridges
The type of liquid being filtered and its viscosity, chemical composition, temperature, and concentration will determine what kind of filter is optimal. If the liquid is corrosive, for example, a PTFE or polypropylene filter may be best. The filter should also be compatible with the system in which it is used. A specialized filtration expert can help select the right filter cartridge.
The way that the filter is constructed is important, as well. It is important to choose a cartridge that uses premium materials, has a sturdy core, and is woven to perfection to meet the filtration requirements. The end caps should also be high quality to ensure they are secure and sealed to prevent bypassing into the clean side of the filter.
A device that indicates when the cartridge needs to be replaced, called an end-of-service-life indicator (ESLI), can help avoid wasted resources and downtime. ESLIs can be passive or active, and they are available in a variety of colors to indicate different gasses.
Another problem is that harmful gases can de-absorb during storage in the cartridge, due to differences in concentrations of entrapped molecules (at the inlet for compressed air, the concentration is higher; at the outlet for purified air, the concentration is lower). Because these molecules can migrate from the inlet to the outlet, it is not safe to reuse these filters unless the amount of migration is known accurately.