heavy metals in water filtration

[PDA1]

@unit392 : The specific agent shown contains more than a flocculant. It has Calcium hypochlorite. This acts in water by releasing chlorine, which acts as a disinfectant to kill bacteria and viruses. In that process, the water becomes alkaline with a high concentration of OH_ ions. These precipitate (some) of the heavy metals as hydroxides, which are gathered in the flocs for easier removal/filtration. Arsenic is also removed by flocculation using ferrous sulphate see: https://www.researchgate.net/public...ing_water_by_flocculation_and_microfiltration The higher alkalinity brought about by the hypochlorite contributes to the efficacy.

There are many other papers that you can peruse. IMO,the summary given in the CDC paper cited in my earlier post suffice. The CDC is not in the habit of producing unresearched and dubious findings.

 

[Tracker NTS-054]

I happen to be a chemist, and would be interested if you could use a chelating agent such as ethylene-diamine-tetra-acetic-acid (EDTA) to remove heavy metals such as lead and (not as sure about silver) from water before treating it as you would any dirty water.. Just a thought and probably not too helpful-

All the best
Lewis

 

[PDA1]

Also a chemist. Perhaps easier to precipitate as a hydroxide, and use the flocculant to collect the precipitates. The success of the P&G packs in villages in third world communities has been quite remarkable in creating a limited volume water purification and sterilization system that can easily be used after minimal training.

 

[santaman2000]

I happen to be a chemist, and would be interested if you could use a chelating agent such as ethylene-diamine-tetra-acetic-acid (EDTA) to remove heavy metals such as lead and (not as sure about silver) from water before treating it as you would any dirty water.. Just a thought and probably not too helpful-

All the best
Lewis

Also a chemist. Perhaps easier to precipitate as a hydroxide, and use the flocculant to collect the precipitates. The success of the P&G packs in villages in third world communities has been quite remarkable in creating a limited volume water purification and sterilization system that can easily be used after minimal training.

You might want to be sure you're both using the same definition for "chemist." When I was in the UK it also was used to describe a pharmacist.

 

[wingstoo]

Personally I wouldn't be that worried about it, the quantity of lead or silver you are likely to ingest in the time you are "wild camping" is going to be so minute that it is negligible to what damage it would do...

People used to worry about lead pipe, but they forget that the likelihood of absorbing sufficient lead from a pipe to be deemed toxic is difficult unless the whole system is lead and the water particularly acidic to strip the lining off the pipe, the build up on the inside of the pipe was regularly enough to stop lead particles being stripped to such an extent to cause any issues...

As others have commented already it might be worth looking for a source above the possible contamination if you are that concerned about the chances of absorbing huge quantities of contaminants, alternatively you could try getting the water tested prior to using the area, get a sample of the water and send it to your local labs to find out how high the solution is contaminated.

 

[Howie]

I did not think that Silver was dangerous to ingest in trace amounts? Even huge doses do not kill although they may turn you into a smurf .. see Argyria.

 

[Armleywhite]

What about this? Seems to be a good short term "fix" for 99.9% of known contaminants??

https://www.watertogo.eu/

 

[BillyBlade]

I have one of those and have used it in the Leadhills area of Scotland where there is known contamination from mining.

Still alive. I think.

 

[GadgetUK437]

Sawyer may have something for you next year,

https://www.facebook.com/SawyerProducts/?fref=nf

 

[Leshy]

Judging by the info on the picture, S3 will be the choice for most that use this sort of thing...
Sawyer do make excellent kit!

As mentioned before in a previous post , there's a British company with a proven track record, good client base and very reasonable price tag , selling what the OP was looking for...

metals is also on the contaminant list targeted by this system.

http://www.drinksafe-systems.co.uk/products.php


https://youtu.be/YPwFmkDQ_iI

https://youtu.be/Oxa_RZaONsY

At less than £20 for a replacement filter cartridge, 1600 litres ( !!! ) of purified water per cartridge and auto shutdown mechanism to be foolproof ...is a no brainer.

Works for me, and we have drank out of rivers , canal and ponds ...
Taste and odours removed as well.

No relation to the company Just a happy customer...


PS-
Oh and its British

 

[BillyBlade]

Same here Leshy. I used it last night from a water source that when I saw it this morning in the daylight, well, let's say if I'd seen how grim it was last night I'd have found somewhere else to drink from!

 

[Leshy]

Same here Leshy. I used it last night from a water source that when I saw it this morning in the daylight, well, let's say if I'd seen how grim it was last night I'd have found somewhere else to drink from!

I know mate, it's possibly the best bit of kit I own...
I have drank from stinky stagnant waters too (canal) and just put it through a millbank bag just to sift out the sediment to prolong the filters lifespan...
It's a life saver and affordable, no wonder our MOD issues it.
👍