Filter Technology Comparison

Multipure’s Solid Carbon Block

Blending industry-leading performance, cost-effectiveness, efficiency, and convenience, Multipure’s Solid Carbon Block Filter uses a combination of mechanical filtration, electrokinetic adsorption, and physiochemical adsorption. The solid carbon block prefilter electrokinetically adsorbs contaminants before the water passes into the carbon block, where the densely compacted carbon block’s microscopically-small pores mechanically intercept particles as small as 0.5 microns. Remaining contaminants are physiochemically adsorbed to the carbon block as water passes through. The large surface area of the carbons provides maximum contact with the water for maximum filtration.

Benefits

• Utilizes three types of filtration: mechanical filtration, electrokinetic adsorption, and physiochemical adsorption • Very high filtration surface contact area • No water channeling effect • No wasted water • No electricity required • No chemicals added to the water • No healthful minerals removed from the water

Issues

• Requires active water pressure for use. Passive filtration is not possible.

Reverse Osmosis

Reverse Osmosis (RO) involves the application of pressure to force water through a semi-permeable membrane, allowing water to pass through the membrane while contaminants such as heavy metals, salts, and inorganic compounds remain behind. A typical RO system utilizes one or more sediment prefilters to trap particulate matter in the water, as well as a solid carbon block prefilter to trap organic chemicals and chlorine before the water reaches the RO membrane. In addition, an optional solid carbon block post-filter is used to trap contaminants not removed by the RO membrane, as well as an optional ultraviolet (UV) lap to sterilize any remaining microbes in the water. Processed water is held in a reservoir tank for use.

Benefits

• Multiple methods of filtration can be involved: mechanical filtration, electrokinetic adsorption, physiochemical adsorption, reverse osmosis, and ultraviolet sterilization. • No water channeling effect Issues

• Requires active water pressure for use. Passive filtration is not possible. • Wastes 3 to 4 gallons of water for each gallon of produced. • Available drinking water limited by reservoir tank; once empty, the RO system requires one or more hours to refill the tank. • Requires electricity for optional UV sterilization. • Requires multiple filter cartridges. • RO process removes healthful minerals from the water.

Granular

Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) utilizes a bed of carbon granules to passively filter water as it passes through. Larger particulate matter can be trapped by the GAC, and certain contaminates that affect the taste and odor of water are physiochemically adsorbed to the carbon granules.

Benefits

• Utilizes mechanical filtration and physiochemical adsorption to improve the taste and odor of water. • No active water pressure required; can be used for passive filtration. • No wasted water. • No electricity required. • No healthful minerals removed from the water. Issues

• Not effective in treating contaminants of health concern. • Prone to water channeling effect; water can form a channel through the GAC to bypass the filter media entirely. • Prone to bacterial growth without the use of chemical additives.

Through Distillation, water is boiled to a vapor and then cooled back to a liquid, separating out inorganic contaminants in the process. While useful in the reduction of heavy metals, distillation is not effective in the reduction of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which can be evaporated into a gas and condensed back into a liquid along with the water. Distilled water must be stored in a separate container for use.

Benefits

• Can reduce the presence of heavy metals in the water. • No physical filter media required.

Issues

• Not effective in treating VOCs in the water. • Requires high levels of electricity for operation. • Distillation is a relatively slow process. • Available drinking water limited to the amount stored after distillation. • Distillation process removes healthful minerals from the water.

Mixed Media (KDF or ATS)

Mixed Media filters are typically engineered for specific contaminant reduction, and are often combinations of media like granular activated carbon with either Kinetic Degradation Flux (KDF) or ATS Adsorbent media. While they have shown high performance against specific contaminants, mixed media filters are not designed for comprehensive contaminant reduction.

Benefits

• KDF filters offer high performance chlorine reduction. • ATS filters offer high performance lead reduction. Issues

• Not effective in treating contaminants outside their specific purpose. Ceramic Filters

Ceramic Filters use mechanical filtration to prevent certain contaminants from passing through the pores of the filter surface. Contaminants larger than the pore size, including large , protozoa, or cysts, are prevented from passing through the filter with the water.

Benefits

• Utilizes mechanical filtration to improve the taste, odor, and healthfulness of the water. • Solid filter media means that no water channeling effect occurs. • Can be used for passive water filtration.

Issues

• Ceramic filter media is prone to hairline cracks or breakage. • Does not use physiochemical or electrokinetic adsorption to reduce contaminants smaller than the pore size. • Does not prevent the growth of mold or algae on the filter without chemical additives.

Ion Exchange (Water Softener)

Ion Exchange is a water treatment method used in household water softeners to mitigate the effects of excessive minerals or metal ions in water, called hard water. Ion exchange water softeners replace the hard water ions with those of salt or potassium, which do not produce the hard water effect that can lead to limescale buildup or corrosion of the metal pipes.

Benefits

• Reduces the presence of hard water ions in the water to prevent limescale buildup or corrosion. Issues

• Does not treat the water for contaminants of aesthetic or health concern. • Adds sodium or potassium to the water. Ultraviolet Treatment

With Ultraviolet (UV) Treatment, water passes through a chamber where it is exposed to UV radiation. The UV radiation is effective at treating certain bacteria and cysts in the water.

Benefits

• Reduces the presence of certain harmful bacteria and cysts in the water. • No wasted water. • No chemicals added to the water. • Does not remove healthful minerals from the water. Issues

• Does not treat contaminants outside of certain bacteria and cysts, such as heavy metals, viruses, and VOCs. • Effectiveness is reduced as water turbidity increases (i.e., effectiveness is reduced when the water is cloudy or full of particulates). • Requires electricity for operation.

7251 Cathedral Rock Drive, Las Vegas, NV 89128 • 702.360.8880 • 800.622.9206 www.multipure.com

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