KDF Water Filters

What's KDF and How Effective is it in Removing Chlorine and other Contaminants?

KDF® Process Media are high-purity, granulated copper and zinc-based alloys that treat water through a process based upon the principle of redox (Oxidation-Reduction). Originally, KDF was shorthand for Kinetic Degradation Fluxion.  Basically, KDF creates zinc oxide in the cartridge which helps stop bacteria from growing and allows the carbon to last longer.

How KDF ® Filters Work

Our filters use a three-stage KDF/GAC cartridge that inhibits bacteria formation, removes sediment, cysts, chlorine, heavy metals, pesticides and more, while leaving the healthy minerals present in your water.  KDF actually neutralizes chlorine!  And the effectiveness of the GAC is extended by using KDF to remove chlorine.

Stage 1 - Mechanical Filtration

Mechanical filtration is achieved when the dimension of the particle is larger than the hole in the filter. This form of filtration removes suspended particles, such as silt, sediment, sand, rust, dirt, and other un-dissolved matter. Our cartridge system employs a staged mechanical system that is measured in microns. As a point of reference, 1 micron equals 1/25,000 of an inch and a human hair is about 100 microns in diameter. As water enters the cartridge, it passed through a 1 to 5 micron pre-filter (5 micron on, CF-E, CT-E and IL). The double under counter filter (UCD) and whole house filter (WH-1) use a 1 micron replaceable pre-filter for sediment and cyst (Giardia, Cryptosporidium) removal. The optional ceramic pre-filter cartridge (UCD-C) filters down to an absolute 0.9 microns to remove not only sediment and cysts, but bacteria as well.

Stage 2 - Electro-chemical Oxidation-Reduction Process KDF-55D

In the next stage, the water passes through a bed of a media made of a special high-purity alloy blend of two dissimilar metals - copper and zinc KDF-55D. This media, patented in 1987 by KDF Fluid Treatment, Inc., 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 our cartridge have shown 99+% chlorine removal past 20,000 gallons of water while a carbon cartridge of comparable volume drops below 90% effectiveness after only 4,000 gallons. Iron and hydrogen sulfide are oxidized into insoluble matter and attach to the surface of the media. Heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, and aluminum 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 bacteria growth throughout the entire unit (in fact, has been shown to reduce it up to 90%!), eliminating the need for silver, 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 was measured. The EPA Aesthetic levels are 1.0 mg/l for copper and 5.0 mg/l for zinc. Click here to visit the KDF Fluid Treatment company's Web site. We use a special "stabilized" version of KDF.

Stage 3 - Adsorption: Granulated Activated Carbon

Granulated activated carbon (GAC) is universally recognized and widely used as an effective adsorbent for a wide variety of organic contaminants, such as herbicides, pesticides, industrial chemicals, and trihalomethanes (THM's). Carbon is extremely porous and provides a large surface area for contaminants to collect (the surface area of the carbon in our filter would equal the surface of 50 football fields). 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 micropores than either coal-, wood- or lignite-based carbon. As a result, it is more effective than other carbon types in removing trihalomethanes (THMs) 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 for chlorine and is free to concentrate more effectively on organic contaminants.

KDF/GAC Filter Advantages

	Removes a wide range of contaminants including heavy metals
	Leaves healthful minerals intact producing a tastier mineral water
	KDF neutralizes chlorine
	Low maintenance
	Lower operating costs (about 1 cent per gallon)
	KDF media inhibits bacteria growth within the unit - uses no silver
	5 to 10 times longer life than GAC-only filter
	Optional ceramic pre-filter can remove bacteria and cysts

Here's what KDF Fluid Treatment, Inc. says about their products:

"KDF media is the core product of many filtration systems, and can be used in conjunction with other products to provide superior purification. Patented KDF process media consist of high-purity copper-zinc formulations. These substances exchange electrons or bond with chlorine and other metals contained in the water to create harmless substances. Through this basic chemical process known as redox (oxidation/reduction), KDF process media work behind the scenes to rid your water of chlorine, lead, mercury, iron and hydrogen sulfide. The redox reaction also inhibits the growth of bacteria, algae, and fungi. As an added benefit, KDF media reduce lime scale, mold, and fungi in your tub or shower. KDF process media are completely safe. KDF media meet EPA and Food and Drug Administration standards for levels of zinc and copper in potable water, so the process is not toxic and does not cause any adverse side effects. Hospitals, restaurants, municipal water treatment facilities, and homes rely on KDF process media to safely reduce or remove chlorine, iron, hydrogen sulfide and heavy metals from their water. KDF media are environmentally sound and 100 percent recyclable, but refer to the instructions enclosed with your filter or system for proper disposal, as different manufacturers combine KDF process media with other filtration technologies. ANSI/NSF Standard 61 for drinking water system components -- health effects."

Benefits of KDF Process Media

	Significantly extend the life of granular activated carbon
	Are recyclable
	Effectively remove chlorine and heavy metals and control microorganisms
	Are available in four granular styles, each designed for a specific need
	Outperform silver-impregnated carbons
	Require no EPA registration, thus less red tape

What about KDF Process Media and RO, DI and IX systems?

Reverse Osmosis (RO), Deionization (DI) and Ion Exchange (IX) systems benefit from the use of KDF Process Media because our Media allow these systems to tend to their strengths. Our Media protect RO systems from chlorine degradation and bacterial contamination, extending the life of the systems’ membranes. KDF Process Media protect expensive IX systems from becoming fouled with chlorine, algae, fungi and bacteria. Less fouling, longer life and reduced maintenance, all combine for lower costs.

Where are KDF Process Media used?

KDF Process Media are used in a variety of pretreatment, primary treatment, and wastewater applications. They are generally used in place of, or in conjunction with, granular activated carbon filters, even carbon block or inline filters. KDF Process Media extend the life of granular activated carbon (GAC) while protecting the carbon bed against fouling by bacterial growth.

Our Media are also used to replace silver-impregnated systems. Silver is toxic, KDF Process Media are not. Silver must be registered with the EPA as a toxic pesticide, KDF Process Media do not. By the way, silver is more expensive than KDF Process Media.

Make Up of KDF-55 and Chlorine Removal

We use KDF-55 to effectively remove 99.9 percent of the free chlorine in municipal water.  It's composed of 50 percent copper and 50 percent zinc.  The zinc component of KDF-55 effectively removes the majority of chlorine present in most municipal water system.  The copper component can reduce chloramines (chlorine with ammonia) recently introduced into municipal water because they prevent the formation of THMs.

KDF® is a trademark of KDF Fluid Treatment, Inc.