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INNOVATIONS CHEMICAL PHARMA/ FOOD/

BIOTECH BEVERAGE
OIL/
GAS
WATER/
WASTEWATER
POWER

Reuse, Recycle and Reduce: The


New Mantra for Water Filtration
Activated glass filtration media (AFM) has emerged as a viable alternative to sand

Source:
Use of sand in the water filtration

process is a common practice.

However, once used, sand cannot be

reused or recycled. Additionally, it is

a finite resource and is diminishing.

Hence, innovative methods like AFM

are making headway in the field of

water filtration.

Sand has been used in the water


filtration process for thousands of
years now. However, modern filtration
process requires sand to be changed after
every 5-10 years. The biggest disadvantage
of this filtration system is, sand once used
in the filtration process cannot be reused
and straight away goes to the landfill. This
process not only leads to environment CAPTION:
degradation but also incurs heavy
transportation cost. This makes it
imperative to use sand with discretion and
also look for feasible alternatives to sand.
Exploring alternatives How is it manufactured?
Replacing sand with AFM is a cost- AFM is manufactured from green
effective and an environment-friendly way container glass in a closed loop process as
to resolve this ecological issue. The it has unique catalytic properties. Glass,
advantage with this process is that AFM can which is normally destined for landfill, is
be recovered and upcycled for reuse. Dryden transformed into a molecular sieve AFM.
Aqua, a Scotland-based company, offers an This means, it also works as a waste
Nikunj Shah
SVS Aqua Technologies AFM water filtration method that uses waste management system since waste glass is
info@svsaqua.com
container glass as a water filtration media. upcycled into a high value product.

30 PROCESS INDIA Volume 1 Issue 5 April 2014


The glass is reduced to a very precise

Source
particle size and particle size distribution. The
surface of every grain is then turned into a
mesoporous catalytic selective molecular
sieve that adsorbs particles and chemicals
such as some priority substances that should
not be there in the water. The AFM is
recharged and ready to use again by back-
washing it with water. This backwash
removes the particles as well as chemicals
that have been removed during the run
phase. The nano-structure of AFM is
configured to trap and hold specific
molecules.

AFM v/s sand


The health and well-being of everyone
depends on the supply of clean potable
water. Sand is used to filter more than 99
per cent of all drinking water but issues CAPTION:
with parasites (cryptosporidium),
disinfection by-products and priority
substances such as endocrine disrupters
and heavy metals still remain major areas
Iron, arsenic and chromium and arsenic from AS3+ to AS5+. Dryden Aqua
of concern for those involved in water
removal has observed that longer aeration produces
processing. With AFM, a high negative Iron, arsenic and chromium, which are larger ferric particles and, in turn, makes it
charge means that it is very effective at often found in high concentrations in tube easier for removal by AFM. AFM is twice as
removing metals and organic particles that well water, can also be treated with AFM. efficient as sand or greensand at removing
have a positive charge. The recommended first step in water ferric. A vigorous backwash removes the
treatment is vigorous aeration to gas strip iron and arsenic, and this, of course, means
the volatiles and increase oxidation that AFM need not be replaced.
potential. Through this, the oxidation state Chromium, however, is a little more
of metals changes and they become difficult. After the gas stripping stage, a
Benefits of AFM insoluble and easier to remove with AFM. second stage involves the addition of
Independent testing has con- For example: iron changes from Fe2+ to Fe3+ ferrous Fe2+ at a high pH to reduce Cr6+ to
firmed that AFM offers the fol- Cr3+ after which the water can be filtered
lowing benefits over sand for by AFM.
treating drinking water and
Pre-treatment
Source

wastewater, which can result in


significant financial savings: AFM can also be used as pre-treatment to
reverse osmosis (RO) or ultra filtration (UF).
>25 per cent reduction in
In such cases, the silt density index (SDI) is
flocculation chemicals
50 per cent lower than the SDI from a sand
\>50 per cent reduction in
filter. Also, it offers by-products free of
chlorine oxidation demand
silica and biofouling. Hence, it becomes an
Anthracite is not required ideal choice for pre-treatment prior to
Activated carbon use reduced membranes.
>50 per cent
Conclusion
Double filtration and, therefore,
energy use avoided AFM not only enables to replace sand but
also does it with more efficiency. By reusing
Reduction in highly toxic
and recycling glass and reducing usage of
chlorine by-products by up to
sand, this innovative method of water
90 per cent
CAPTION: filtration can help mankind to take a step
forward towards a sustainable future.

PROCESS India Volume 1 Issue 5 April 2014 31

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