UltraStream Owners: Why we upgraded your filter with Polyphosphate
As you probably know, a big advantage of owning an UltraStream is that here at AlkaWay we are always at the forefront on new contaminant alerts and always seeking ways to neutralise them
In our last iteration of the UltraStream filter, we added a layer of polyphosphate.
Here's an explainer of why:
Polyphosphates are an important class of compounds that have a variety of applications in industries such as food, pharmaceuticals, and water treatment.
In water treatment, polyphosphates are used as a water softening agent to prevent the buildup of scale and mineral deposits in pipes, equipment, and appliances. Additionally, they are used in water filtration as a coagulant and a flocculant to enhance the removal of impurities from water.
Water filtration is the process of removing impurities and contaminants from water to make it safe for human consumption or for other purposes such as irrigation or industrial use.
The process involves the use of various filtration media such as sand, gravel, activated carbon, and membranes. However, some impurities such as suspended solids, bacteria, and viruses may be too small to be removed by conventional filtration methods. This is where the use of coagulants and flocculants such as polyphosphates comes in.
Polyphosphates are long-chain polymers of phosphoric acid that contain multiple phosphate groups. They are commonly used as a coagulant and a flocculant in water filtration because of their ability to bind with suspended particles and form larger aggregates that are easier to remove. The polyphosphate molecules attach to the surface of the suspended particles and create a net-like structure that allows them to be trapped by the filter media.
One of the main advantages of using polyphosphates in water filtration is their ability to remove a wide range of impurities including suspended solids, bacteria, and viruses. They work by destabilizing the particles and causing them to aggregate into larger, heavier particles that can be easily filtered out.
Polyphosphates are particularly effective in removing suspended solids that are negatively charged because they have a positive charge that attracts and neutralizes the negative charge of the particles.
In addition to their coagulation and flocculation properties, polyphosphates also have a water softening effect.
Hard water contains high levels of calcium and magnesium ions that often as not leads to the buildup of scale and mineral deposits in pipes, equipment, and appliances. Polyphosphates can bind with these ions and prevent them from forming insoluble compounds that cause scale buildup. This helps to extend the lifespan of the filtration system and reduce maintenance costs.
Polyphosphates can be added to the water as a dry powder or in the form of a liquid solution. The amount of polyphosphate needed depends on the level of impurities in the water and the desired level of filtration. In general, higher levels of impurities require higher doses of polyphosphates to achieve effective filtration.
It is important to note that polyphosphates are not a standalone solution to water filtration. We have employed in conjunction with other filtration methods including sedimentation, catalytic carbon, and membrane filtration to achieve the desired level of water quality.
In conclusion, polyphosphates are an important tool in water filtration that can enhance the removal of impurities and extend the lifespan of the filtration system. They work by coagulating and flocculating suspended particles and binding with calcium and magnesium ions to prevent scale buildup. However, they should be used in conjunction with other filtration methods and with caution to avoid the potential negative effects of increased phosphate levels in the water.
In our case, the employing of polyphosphate came as a result of our observation that if your water was already alkaline as it entered the UltraStream, it would, as a result of UltraStream's other filtration systems, become even more alkaline. This may appear OK for people who want highly alkaline water but there are other factors. One is that our fluoride removal media's performance reduces as pH gets higher, so to maintain our fluoride removal we realised we had a need to 'cap' alkalizing.