Kdf-55
Encyclopedia
KDF is a water filtration media used in a number of water filtration applications.
used in water filtration applications. KDF is often used along side activated carbon
to maximise the filters efficiency. Generally KDF is used in a purification system
as a pre-filter, before another, finer stage of filtration, for example, reverse osmosis
, deionisation and ion exchange
systems.
and filtration, since its development in 1984, it has grown to be widely regarded as one of the best filtration medias available.
KDF was discovered and developed by the inventor, Don Heskett in 1984. He initially discovered the potential of KDF media when he dipped one of his brass
pen refills into a glass of chlorinated water containing chlorine reagent
tablets (hence coloured pink), and observed the colour dissipate. It was at this moment that Don realised that the brass pen refill had some form of potential to absorb impurities from water, in this case, chlorine
. Over the next 36 months (3 years) Heskett developed and researched his discovery, slowly refining it until he came to the product now known as KDF media.
of both copper
and zinc
, used in a flaked or granulated particulate form. Usually appearing gold or brass in colour.
and fungi
, control bacteria
growth, remove chlorine, pesticide
s, organic matter, rust
, unpleasant taste and odour, hydrogen sulphide, iron
, lead
, nickel
, chromium
, cadmium
, calcium
, aluminium
, mercury
, arsenic
, and other organic compounds.
KDF has a wide spread of effectiveness against a large number of impurities in water. KDF is optimised when used in conjunction with another filter media, Especially any form of Activated carbon (whether in block of granulated form).
and circumstances. The reason the Redox reaction works so well with KDF is because the two constituents of KDF are oppositely charged, copper is a positive element, and zinc is a negative element.
So basically, Positively charged molecules (impurities and contaminants) are attracted to the negative charge of the zinc and negatively charged molecules (impurities and contaminants) are attracted to the positive charge of the copper.
within the spaces between each particle, the zinc acting as the anode
and the copper acting as the cathode
within this cell, and the water and its impurities acting as the electrolyte through which the charge flows. When the contaminants and impurities found in water pass through this electrolytic cell, some substances, especially metals, react to the magnetic force exerted by the electrolytic cell and are attracted to the surface of the KDF particles, where they adhere. Other non-metal impurities react with the KDF and form zinc oxides, copper hydroxides, hydroxide
s, and sulphates in the water. These by-products remain within the drinking water, but are not dangerous, also as part of this reaction, ozone
is created and carried through into the drinking water, forming a hostile and desolate environment for algae, bacteria and any other array of micro-organism.
Introduction
KDF media (or Kinetic Degradation Fluxion Media), is a chemical compoundChemical compound
A chemical compound is a pure chemical substance consisting of two or more different chemical elements that can be separated into simpler substances by chemical reactions. Chemical compounds have a unique and defined chemical structure; they consist of a fixed ratio of atoms that are held together...
used in water filtration applications. KDF is often used along side activated carbon
Activated carbon
Activated carbon, also called activated charcoal, activated coal or carbo activatus, is a form of carbon that has been processed to make it extremely porous and thus to have a very large surface area available for adsorption or chemical reactions.The word activated in the name is sometimes replaced...
to maximise the filters efficiency. Generally KDF is used in a purification system
Water purification
Water purification is the process of removing undesirable chemicals, materials, and biological contaminants from contaminated water. The goal is to produce water fit for a specific purpose...
as a pre-filter, before another, finer stage of filtration, for example, reverse osmosis
Reverse osmosis
Reverse osmosis is a membrane technical filtration method that removes many types of large molecules and ions from solutions by applying pressure to the solution when it is on one side of a selective membrane. The result is that the solute is retained on the pressurized side of the membrane and...
, deionisation and ion exchange
Ion exchange
Ion exchange is an exchange of ions between two electrolytes or between an electrolyte solution and a complex. In most cases the term is used to denote the processes of purification, separation, and decontamination of aqueous and other ion-containing solutions with solid polymeric or mineralic 'ion...
systems.
History
KDF is regarded as being one of the newer developments in water treatmentWater treatment
Water treatment describes those processes used to make water more acceptable for a desired end-use. These can include use as drinking water, industrial processes, medical and many other uses. The goal of all water treatment process is to remove existing contaminants in the water, or reduce the...
and filtration, since its development in 1984, it has grown to be widely regarded as one of the best filtration medias available.
KDF was discovered and developed by the inventor, Don Heskett in 1984. He initially discovered the potential of KDF media when he dipped one of his brass
Brass
Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc; the proportions of zinc and copper can be varied to create a range of brasses with varying properties.In comparison, bronze is principally an alloy of copper and tin...
pen refills into a glass of chlorinated water containing chlorine reagent
Reagent
A reagent is a "substance or compound that is added to a system in order to bring about a chemical reaction, or added to see if a reaction occurs." Although the terms reactant and reagent are often used interchangeably, a reactant is less specifically a "substance that is consumed in the course of...
tablets (hence coloured pink), and observed the colour dissipate. It was at this moment that Don realised that the brass pen refill had some form of potential to absorb impurities from water, in this case, chlorine
Chlorine
Chlorine is the chemical element with atomic number 17 and symbol Cl. It is the second lightest halogen, found in the periodic table in group 17. The element forms diatomic molecules under standard conditions, called dichlorine...
. Over the next 36 months (3 years) Heskett developed and researched his discovery, slowly refining it until he came to the product now known as KDF media.
Structure
KDF water filtration media is a high-purity alloyAlloy
An alloy is a mixture or metallic solid solution composed of two or more elements. Complete solid solution alloys give single solid phase microstructure, while partial solutions give two or more phases that may or may not be homogeneous in distribution, depending on thermal history...
of both copper
Copper
Copper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu and atomic number 29. It is a ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. Pure copper is soft and malleable; an exposed surface has a reddish-orange tarnish...
and zinc
Zinc
Zinc , or spelter , is a metallic chemical element; it has the symbol Zn and atomic number 30. It is the first element in group 12 of the periodic table. Zinc is, in some respects, chemically similar to magnesium, because its ion is of similar size and its only common oxidation state is +2...
, used in a flaked or granulated particulate form. Usually appearing gold or brass in colour.
Effectiveness
KDF is known to kill algaeAlgae
Algae are a large and diverse group of simple, typically autotrophic organisms, ranging from unicellular to multicellular forms, such as the giant kelps that grow to 65 meters in length. They are photosynthetic like plants, and "simple" because their tissues are not organized into the many...
and fungi
Fungus
A fungus is a member of a large group of eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and molds , as well as the more familiar mushrooms. These organisms are classified as a kingdom, Fungi, which is separate from plants, animals, and bacteria...
, control bacteria
Bacteria
Bacteria are a large domain of prokaryotic microorganisms. Typically a few micrometres in length, bacteria have a wide range of shapes, ranging from spheres to rods and spirals...
growth, remove chlorine, pesticide
Pesticide
Pesticides are substances or mixture of substances intended for preventing, destroying, repelling or mitigating any pest.A pesticide may be a chemical unicycle, biological agent , antimicrobial, disinfectant or device used against any pest...
s, organic matter, rust
Rust
Rust is a general term for a series of iron oxides. In colloquial usage, the term is applied to red oxides, formed by the reaction of iron and oxygen in the presence of water or air moisture...
, unpleasant taste and odour, hydrogen sulphide, iron
Iron
Iron is a chemical element with the symbol Fe and atomic number 26. It is a metal in the first transition series. It is the most common element forming the planet Earth as a whole, forming much of Earth's outer and inner core. It is the fourth most common element in the Earth's crust...
, lead
Lead
Lead is a main-group element in the carbon group with the symbol Pb and atomic number 82. Lead is a soft, malleable poor metal. It is also counted as one of the heavy metals. Metallic lead has a bluish-white color after being freshly cut, but it soon tarnishes to a dull grayish color when exposed...
, nickel
Nickel
Nickel is a chemical element with the chemical symbol Ni and atomic number 28. It is a silvery-white lustrous metal with a slight golden tinge. Nickel belongs to the transition metals and is hard and ductile...
, chromium
Chromium
Chromium is a chemical element which has the symbol Cr and atomic number 24. It is the first element in Group 6. It is a steely-gray, lustrous, hard metal that takes a high polish and has a high melting point. It is also odorless, tasteless, and malleable...
, cadmium
Cadmium
Cadmium is a chemical element with the symbol Cd and atomic number 48. This soft, bluish-white metal is chemically similar to the two other stable metals in group 12, zinc and mercury. Similar to zinc, it prefers oxidation state +2 in most of its compounds and similar to mercury it shows a low...
, calcium
Calcium
Calcium is the chemical element with the symbol Ca and atomic number 20. It has an atomic mass of 40.078 amu. Calcium is a soft gray alkaline earth metal, and is the fifth-most-abundant element by mass in the Earth's crust...
, aluminium
Aluminium
Aluminium or aluminum is a silvery white member of the boron group of chemical elements. It has the symbol Al, and its atomic number is 13. It is not soluble in water under normal circumstances....
, mercury
Mercury (element)
Mercury is a chemical element with the symbol Hg and atomic number 80. It is also known as quicksilver or hydrargyrum...
, arsenic
Arsenic
Arsenic is a chemical element with the symbol As, atomic number 33 and relative atomic mass 74.92. Arsenic occurs in many minerals, usually in conjunction with sulfur and metals, and also as a pure elemental crystal. It was first documented by Albertus Magnus in 1250.Arsenic is a metalloid...
, and other organic compounds.
KDF has a wide spread of effectiveness against a large number of impurities in water. KDF is optimised when used in conjunction with another filter media, Especially any form of Activated carbon (whether in block of granulated form).
Reactive process
KDF water filtration media utilize the principle of electrochemical oxidation reduction, more commonly known to the population as the redox process (Redox reaction) to eliminate a vast number of water contaminants.The Redox Process and KDF Media
All items are recognised as having some form of electrical and magnetic charge. some are positively charged and some are negatively charged, depending on their molecular structureMolecular structure
The molecular structure of a substance is described by the combination of nuclei and electrons that comprise its constitute molecules. This includes the molecular geometry , the electronic properties of the...
and circumstances. The reason the Redox reaction works so well with KDF is because the two constituents of KDF are oppositely charged, copper is a positive element, and zinc is a negative element.
So basically, Positively charged molecules (impurities and contaminants) are attracted to the negative charge of the zinc and negatively charged molecules (impurities and contaminants) are attracted to the positive charge of the copper.
Water filtration process
Water passes through a bed of pure KDF or an Activated carbon/KDF mix. As the water makes contact with the KDF particles the Redox reaction takes place, removing such impurities as minerals, metals, dissolved oxygen and organic materials. The KDF itself creates a miniature electrolytic cellElectrolytic cell
An electrolytic cell decomposes chemical compounds by means of electrical energy, in a process called electrolysis; the Greek word lysis means to break up. The result is that the chemical energy is increased...
within the spaces between each particle, the zinc acting as the anode
Anode
An anode is an electrode through which electric current flows into a polarized electrical device. Mnemonic: ACID ....
and the copper acting as the cathode
Cathode
A cathode is an electrode through which electric current flows out of a polarized electrical device. Mnemonic: CCD .Cathode polarity is not always negative...
within this cell, and the water and its impurities acting as the electrolyte through which the charge flows. When the contaminants and impurities found in water pass through this electrolytic cell, some substances, especially metals, react to the magnetic force exerted by the electrolytic cell and are attracted to the surface of the KDF particles, where they adhere. Other non-metal impurities react with the KDF and form zinc oxides, copper hydroxides, hydroxide
Hydroxide
Hydroxide is a diatomic anion with chemical formula OH−. It consists of an oxygen and a hydrogen atom held together by a covalent bond, and carrying a negative electric charge. It is an important but usually minor constituent of water. It functions as a base, as a ligand, a nucleophile, and a...
s, and sulphates in the water. These by-products remain within the drinking water, but are not dangerous, also as part of this reaction, ozone
Ozone
Ozone , or trioxygen, is a triatomic molecule, consisting of three oxygen atoms. It is an allotrope of oxygen that is much less stable than the diatomic allotrope...
is created and carried through into the drinking water, forming a hostile and desolate environment for algae, bacteria and any other array of micro-organism.