Redox media can enhance carbon filtration and other water systems.

By Donna Yost

Because our water supplies are affected by multiple factors (pollutants, air particulates, runoff, decomposition or
organic materials, etc.), they could contain:

• Suspended particles (such as sediment, sand, rust, cysts, algae and other undissolved matter).
• Harmful or problematic metals (such as iron, lead, mercury, copper, nickel, chromium, etc.)
• Organic and inorganic contaminants (such as chlorine, volatile organic compounds, pesticides and
herbicides, MTBEs, etc.)

For this reason some waters need to go through multi-stage filtration to effectively extract all levels of
contamination. Some water supplies contain several of these agents, and public water agencies will treat to
remove them. If, however, there is concern about a water supply and/or if one has a well subject to
contamination, such as from surface leaching, more aggressive filtration may be desired.

Adding to carbon
A single medium such as carbon or another type of single-stage filtration can often be used. Often, a non-
bituminous medium, such as high grade coconut shell carbon, provides a greater volume of micropores, making
it more effective in removing contaminants. Carbon filter types, if used alone, will be depleted after using up their
capacity for removing chlorine. Redox media can remove chlorine before it reaches the carbon filtering agents
so that the life of the carbon can be extended and allow it to deal more effectively with organic/inorganic
contaminants. By incorporating high-purity copper-zinc redox media technology into other stages of filtration, a
water treatment system gains increased capacity to protect against harmful pollutants by changing them into
harmless components, with better results and economy.

Redox principles
Redox media technology is based on electrochemical and oxidation-reduction (redox) principles. A high-purity
alloy combination of two dissimilar metals -copper and zinc - in the redox process creates an electrochemical
reaction in which electrons are transferred between molecules, creating new substances which are oxidized.
This changes some contaminants into harmless components. Chlorine is changed into a non-harmful, water-
soluble chloride, which then travels safely through the water supply (see diagram). Similarly, a high-purity
copper-zinc redox medium, by acting as a catalyst, changes soluble ferrous positive ions into insoluble ferric
hydroxide. The ferric hydroxide then is easily filtered and removed by backwashing that is automatic in multi-
stage non-cartridge filters. Also in the same manner, heavy metals such as copper, lead, and mercury react
through the electrochemical changes, are attracted to the surface of the media, and are easily removed from the
water system by the occasional backwashing stages of filtration.

Energy potential
The energy that is needed to remove contaminants is a natural occurrence due to the electrochemical and
catalytic potential of the copper-and-zinc redox alloy. This makes this type of redox medium highly effective in
many water treatment applications, including dechlorination, removal of dissolved heavy metals, and iron
removal. Oxidation-reduction potential (ORP), calculated in millivolts (mV), is a measure of the readiness of a
substance to part with electrons. Metals, including copper and zinc, can be placed in an order of reactivity, the
most reactive being placed above the less reactive. When this is done, zinc is at the more reactive end and is a
more electropositive metal than copper. Copper in this media becomes the permanent cathode and zinc is used
as the sacrificial anode. Zinc is the electron donor. Zinc has a value of ¨C0.76 volts and copper +0.36 volts,
creating a 1.1-volt difference. High-purity copper and zinc provide the most effective combination of metallic
alloys, providing redox potential for water treatment and purification. The ORP quickly changes from +200mV to
-500mV with one pass through this filter media.

Multiple applications
The redox media is in the form of granules which, when used in conjunction with various carbon or inline filters,
protect the carbon bed from fouling by bacterial growth. The stages water goes through for purification will vary
according to the unique characteristics of an individual's water supply. Redox technology can be incorporated
into whole-house, reverse osmosis (RO), deionization (DI), and ion exchange systems for effective water
filtration. Whether one's water filter needs are for suspended particles, harmful chemicals and heavy metals or
organic/inorganic contaminants, multi-stage filtration in many combinations with redox technology can provide a
much-improved water supply.

Donna Yost is co-owner of Yost Family Marketing, Inc., based in Bandon, OR, a provider of filtered water
coolers, refrigerator water filters, reverse osmosis filters, ceramic/ carbon filtration, faucet filters, countertop and
undercounter systems, shower filters, refill cartridges and other products. The Yosts note their personal
experience with issues of water contamination - there is leaching from cranberry bogs surrounding their home.
To learn more about the company, visit: purewaterhome.com.