Trichloroethylene (TCE), an industrial solvent, is often found in water supplies near manufacturing facilities. It’s a dangerous contaminant that can damage your liver, kidneys, and central nervous system.
There are effective ways to remove trichloroethylene from drinking water. These procedures often combine with other filtration methods.
Drinking water with trichloroethylene (TCE) is dangerous. Water filters eliminate TCE from water. GAC filtration is the most common way to remove TCE below the maximum contaminant level (MCL). Water filters with activated carbon reduce TCE’s health risks.
GAC filtration and packed tower aeration can remove TCE from water. All water filters do not remove TCE, so make sure yours does. GAC or solid-block carbon water filtration systems are best for TCE removal.
Optimizing a water filtration system requires a professional. A water filter technician can assess the quality of the water and suggest a system for a home or business.
Water filtration systems reduce TCE in drinking water. TCE is typically removed below the MCL using granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration. Consult a water filter technician to make sure the filtration system removes TCE. The filtration system must be maintained to remove TCE and other contaminants.
I’ve seen TCE in water as a filter technician. A family near an industrial area asked me about their water quality. I had to install a water filtration system to remove TCE. After installing a GAC filtration system and performing routine maintenance, the family reported significant improvements in water quality and the peace of mind that comes with no longer ingesting harmful TCE. A good filtration system and regular maintenance are essential for safe and healthy drinking water.
Activated Carbon
Activated carbon is a popular filter media. Its porous nature allows it to trap and absorb various contaminants. Its millions of microscopic pores and crevices make it highly efficient at adsorption.
This type of adsorbent removes trichloroethylene, chlorine, and chloramines from water. It can also remove organic compounds like pesticides and benzene.
A carbon-rich material is heated to extremely high temperatures to open its pores and create a matrix of millions of micron-sized holes, creating activated carbon. Pore size determines activated carbon’s surface area, which affects its adsorption capacity.
Packing Tower Aeration
Packed tower aeration is one of the best ways to remove trichloroethylene from water filters. A tower of perforated plastic balls creates counter-flow aeration in this process.
Trichloroethylene is a common pollutant in wastewater from metal degreasing and other industrial facilities. Cancer, autoimmune diseases, liver and kidney damage, and more can result.
Cleaning supplies, paint removers, and correction fluids contain the chemical. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) considers it carcinogenic to humans.
A packed tower air stripper uses contaminated water that falls through packing media. A spray nozzle and fan are placed atop the tower to force air into the packing material and water space.
Biological Filtration
Biological filters capture organic pollutants using medium filter microorganisms. These organisms oxidize odors, hydrocarbons, and toxins in the air or water, making them suitable for air and wastewater treatment.
Trichloroethylene can be removed from water by various biofilters. Fluidized bed filters, bioreactors, and MBBRs are examples.
Starting a biofilter with enough bacteria is essential. This can be done by adding small amounts of starter bacteria before an operation or by introducing bacteria from an operating system, pond sediment, or barnyard soil. This allows bacteria to start reproducing and colonizing the media before temperature reduction.
Ion Exchange
Ion exchange removes contaminants from drinking water. This transformation replaces contaminants like nitrate, fluoride, and sulfate with chloride ions for better taste and clarity.
Ion exchange removes heavy metals like copper, lead, and mercury from water. Exposure to these ions can cause cancer and organ damage.
Synthetic zeolite or resin absorbs contaminant ions and releases them back into the water in an ion exchange filter. It’s a chemical process like adsorption but better at removing specific pollutants from water.
Ion exchange resins are in high demand. Analysts predict a six percent annual growth rate over the next five years. This market is driven by rising nuclear power demand and stricter environmental regulations.
