Ceramic Water Filters
Ceramic water filters are most conventional form of water filters, that
count on the small pore size of ceramic material to filter dirt, debris and
bacteria out of water. They are highly inexpensive and effective water
filters used in many household applications. The flow rate of these filters
is relatively low and usually they are made up of water, clay and
combustible materials. However, clay can affect the taste of water, hence
not very much preferred. Some of them consist nano-silver infused into a
porous ceramic outer shell, which help in trapping down bacteria to as low
as .22 of a micron in particle size. The ceramic elements used are the long
lasting mediums and are perfect for frequent backpacking.
Types of Ceramic Filters
Commonly, ceramic filters are available
in three types :
- Candle Filters: Having a flow rate of around 0.3 to 0.8
liters/hour, candle filters are made up of one or more candle-shaped
ceramic filters and two chambers. They are highly effective for removing
turbidity, iron, coliform, fecal contaminants and E. Coli from water.
Generally, candle filters with colloidal silver show 100 percent
bacterial removal, while without silver show 85% removal on an average.
- Disk Filters: These filter comprises a removable ceramic
filter that is sandwiched between two containers. Having a flow rate of
1 to 11 liters per hour, disk filters are effective in removing iron,
fecal contaminants, E. Coli, turbidity from water. The disk filters with
colloidal silver show 93% to 100% bacterial removal rate, while without
silver exhibit 80% removal rate.
- Pot Filters: This is also one of the kind of ceramic filter,
but it is not highly preferred and popular as compared to other forms.
Working of Ceramic Filters
Like in most of the filtration methods,
in ceramic water filter, firstly water is introduced at one side of filter
which blocks the passage of anything larger than water molecule. The filters
are treated with colloidal silver to further incapacitate bacteria and
prevent the growth of mold and algae in the body of the filter. The
contaminated water is flowed into the filter which goes to the receptacle
fitted with a tap. Impurities which are larger in size as compared to the
minute holes of ceramic structure remain in the top half of unit, which can
be easily cleaned by brushing or rinsing.
Advantages of Ceramic Water Filters
The ceramic water filters are
highly acknowledged due to the following advantages :
- Long lastingness.
- No necessity of any power requirement.
- Highly effective in removing sub-micron particles and pathogenic
bacteria from drinking water.
- Facility of self sterilization.
- Made up of natural and pure elements
- Minerals are preserved
- To increase their versatility, ceramic water filters can be combined
with some other filter media.
