The SMART filter is made of a bed of media made of a
special high-purity alloy blend of two dissimilar metals
- copper and zinc (ERA-6500, ERA-9500). ERA-6500 and
ERA-9500 are major advancements in water treatment
technology that works on the electrochemical and
spontaneous-oxidation-reduction (Eagle Redox Alloy®)
principles. Chlorine is instantaneously and almost
inexhaustibly oxidized.
When water flows through ion exchange resins, it reduces
heavy metals such as lead, copper, aluminum, and water
hardness.
The media also includes granulated activated carbon (GAC).
GAC is universally recognized and widely used as an
effective adsorbent for a wide variety of organic
contaminants, such as chlorine (99.9%), chemicals linked
to cancer (THM's, benzene) pesticides, herbicides,
insecticides, volatile organic compounds (VOC's), PCB's,
MTBE's and hundreds of other chemical contaminants that
may be present in water causing bad taste and odors in
your drinking water. GAC is a mixed blend of coconut
shell and catalytic GAC to address both chlorine,
chloramines and these byproducts. Below please read
further details of each layer in this filter.
Crystal Quest's
6 Stages of Filtration
Stage
1: Water flows through pre and post one -
micron filter pads (1 micron equals 1/25,000th of an
inch), which removes suspended particles such as silt,
sediment, cyst (Giardia, Cryptosporidium), sand, rust,
dirt, and other un-dissolved matter.
Stage 2 and 3, water
flows through a bed of media made of a special
high-purity alloy blend of two dissimilar metals -
copper and zinc (Eagle Redox Alloy® 6500, and Eagle
Redox Alloy®
9500.) Eagle Redox Alloy® is a major
advancement in water treatment technology that works on
the electro-chemical and spontaneous-oxidation-reduction
(REDOX) principles. Chlorine is instantaneously and
almost inexhaustibly oxidized. Tests on Eagle Redox
Alloy®/GAC cartridge have shown 99+% chlorine removal
even after 20,000 gallons of water passed through the
filter. In comparison, carbon
cartridges of comparable volumes drop below 90%
effectiveness after only 4,000 gallons. This is an
important consideration.
Iron and hydrogen sulfide are oxidized into insoluble
matter and attach to the surface of the media. Heavy
metals such as lead, mercury, copper, nickel, chromium,
cadmium, aluminum, and other dissolved metals are
removed from the water by the electrochemical process.
They are attracted to the surface of the media, much
like a magnet. The media inhibits bacterial growth
throughout the entire unit. In fact, it has been shown
to be reduced up to 90%, eliminating the need for
silver, which is commonly used in carbon-only filters
(silver is considered a pesticide by the EPA and, as
such, must be registered with them). Is copper or zinc
added to the water in any significant amount? On 2.3 ppm
chlorinated water, <0.05 mg/l copper and only 0.46 mg/l
zinc were measured. The EPA aesthetic levels are 1.0
mg/l for copper and 5.0 mg/l for zinc. Both zinc and
copper are essential minerals for good health - the FDA
recommends a daily intake of 15 mg of zinc and 2 mg of
copper.
Stage
4, water flows through ion exchange resins,
reducing heavy metals such as lead, copper, aluminum,
and water hardness.
Stage
5, water flows through granulated activated
carbon (GAC). GAC is universally recognized and widely
used as an effective adsorbent for a wide variety of
organic contaminants, such as chlorine (99.9%),
chemicals linked to cancer (THM's, benzene) pesticides,
herbicides, insecticides, volatile organic compounds (VOC's),
PCB's, MTBE's and hundreds of other chemical
contaminants that may be present in water causing bad
taste and odors in your drinking water.
Carbon is extremely porous and provides a large surface
area for contaminants to collect. Carbon-only filters
must also use their capacity for chlorine removal,
resulting in a shortened life. They also may use a
bituminous coal carbon, which is good at removing
chlorine, but not as effective at removing chemicals. We
use a high-grade coconut shell carbon that is most
effective at removing chemicals. Coconut shell carbon
provides a significantly higher volume of micro-pores
than either coal, wood or lignite based carbon. As a
result, it is more effective than other carbon types in
removing trihalomethanes (THM's) and other chemicals
from municipally supplied water. Since our REDOX media
removes the chlorine before it reaches the carbon, the
carbon capacity is not wasted on chlorine and is free to
concentrate more effectively on organic contaminants.
In stage 6, water flows through another one-micron
filtration pad for further reduction of undesirable
particles. The end result is a great reduction or total
elimination of a wide variety of contaminants.
CRYSTAL QUEST 6 stages
filtration cartridge Specification
CRYSTAL QUEST 6 stages filtration
cartridge - one-micron filter pad, ERA-6500, ERA-9500,
GAC, ion exchange resin, and another one-micron pad.
Removes hundreds of contaminants* from your drinking
water. Used for low flow such as countertop and
undersink. Read more details of this
filter's 6 stage filtration capacity. Here is a
list of contaminants removed.