How Water Purifiers Work? Do You Really Understand

When it comes to water purifiers, many people think of them simply as devices that filter tap water to remove impurities, delivering clean and safe water. But is it really that straightforward? Let’s take a closer look at the principles behind how water purifiers work.

Types of Water Purifiers and Their Components

Water purifiers, also known as water filtration systems, can be categorized into several types based on their filter configurations:

•      RO Reverse Osmosis Purifiers: These typically include a 5-stage filtration system: PP cotton, granular activated carbon, compressed activated carbon, RO membrane, and post-activated carbon (T33).

•      Ultrafiltration (UF) Purifiers: These use ultrafiltration membranes with additional filters like activated carbon. Based on installation styles, they are classified as vertical or horizontal types.

The Core of Water Purification: The Filter

The primary function of a water purifier is to clean water, and the filter is its core component. Filters work through two main principles: physical filtration and chemical filtration.

Physical Filtration: Absorption and Separation

1.    Adsorption: Activated carbon is widely used due to its microporous structure, which provides excellent adsorption capacity for organic pollutants. It can also chemically adsorb and catalyze the removal of some metal ions.

2.    Filtration: Different materials determine the filtration precision:

•      PP Cotton or Wire Mesh: Offers coarse filtration (~5 microns), removing larger particles like sediment and rust.

•      Ceramics or Medical Fibers: Provides microfiltration (~0.1-1 microns), trapping bacteria and large colloidal substances.

Advanced Membrane Separation Technologies

•      Ultrafiltration (UF): Uses hollow fiber membranes with a precision of 0.001-0.02 microns. It allows minerals and small molecules to pass while blocking proteins, microbes, and larger organic matter.

•      Nanofiltration (NF): Filters substances down to 0.001 microns, falling between UF and RO in precision.

•      Reverse Osmosis (RO): The most refined method, blocking particles larger than 0.0001 microns, including all harmful contaminants and minerals, while permitting water molecules to pass.

Understanding Common Impurities

To understand the importance of these technologies, here’s a comparison of common impurities and their sizes:

Chemical Filtration Principles

In addition to physical methods, chemical filtration can enhance water purification:

•      Ion Exchange Resins: Remove calcium and magnesium ions to soften water.

•      KDF: Reduces heavy metals and controls microbial growth.

•      Silver-Ion Technology: Prevents bacterial buildup.

A Recommendation for Thoughtful Choices

Selecting the right filter is essential to ensure the best water purification results. For those seeking reliable performance, filters like Sanbea offer innovative designs that effectively address diverse water quality challenges. These filters provide peace of mind with their ability to balance filtration precision and durability, making them a smart choice for maintaining your water purifier.