Ceramic Water Filter Cartridges
Interested in buying a ceramic water filter?
Doulton and UltraCeram are the most common brands in regards to ceramic filters.
Doulton and UltraCeram Ceramic water filter cartridges are preferred over common carbon block filters because they are washable.
The surface in the ceramic filters can be scrubbed. Therefore, filters life can be extended when the flow rate is reduced.
Micron Rating
The micron pore size in most ceramic filters ranges from 0.5 to 0.8 micron nominal and 0.9 micron absolute.
Absolute: Filter Rating meaning 99.9% of the particles larger than a specified micron rating will be trapped on or within the filter.Nominal: Filter Rating indicating the approximate size particle, the majority of which will not pass through the filter.
This means that these ceramic filters are capable of capturing particles small as 0.5 micron (dirt, debris, silt, salt, rust).
Other chemicals and harmful contaminants are removed through absorption.
For parasites and chemicals, the ceramic filters have granular activated carbon or carbon block within.
Activated carbon is a commonly used, as it is ready to react and absorb contaminants onto the surface of a filter.
Activated Carbon is effective in removing chlorine, taste and odours.
The adsorption efficiency depends on the nature of activated carbon used, the water composition, and operating parameters (FĂ©licien Mazille).
However, for the removal of microorganisms, metals, nitrates and other inorganic contaminants, granular activated carbon is combined with specialised filtration media .
Mechanical and Absorption Filtration
Ceramic Water Filters are reliable, effective and efficient filters.
The basic idea of mechanical filtration is to physically remove sediment, dirt or any particles in the water using a barrier. Mechanical filters can be anything from a basic mesh that filters out large debris to a ceramic filter which has an extremely complex pore structure for ultra-fine filtration of pathogenic organisms.
A filter that utilises mechanical filtration will usually be given a micron rating which indicates how effective the filters are in terms of the size of the particles it is capable of removing. Common ratings you might see include:
- 5 micron – Will remove most particles visible to the naked eye.
- 1 micron – Will remove particles which are too small to see without a microscope.
- 0.5 micron – Will remove cysts (giardia and cryptosporidium).
For smaller particles, the filtration media (activated carbon) will absorb other chemicals of concern.
Oxygen and mineral particles (calcium, magnesium and potassium) will pass through the filter.
Filtration Media in Doulton and Ultraceram Ceramic Filters
- Doulton SterasylModels have Silver Impregnated Ceramic Micron Filter and reduce Bacteria, Cyst, Chlorine, Taste, Odours, Turbidity.
- Doutlon Super Sterasyl Models have Silver Impregnated Ceramic Micron Filter plus Granular Activated Carbon and reduce Bacteria, Cyst, Chlorine, Free Chlorine, Taste, Odours, Turbidity.
- Doutlon Ultracarb Models have Silver Impregnated Ceramic Micron Filter plus Carbon Block core and lead removal media and reduce Bacteria, Cyst, Chlorine, Free Chlorine, Taste, Odours, Turbidity, Heavy Metals, Pesticides, Herbicides, Phenols, and Lead.
- Ultraceram Gravity Models have Silver Impregnated Ceramic Micron Filter plus Carbon Block core and fluoride removal media and reduce Bacteria, Cysts, Chlorine, Free Chlorine, TDS, Taste, Odours, Heavy Metals, and Fluoride.
Silver impregnated is used as filtration media to inhibit the reproduction of bacteria within the filter.