Fractured clay & activated carbon, adsorption characteristics

[NetMax]

Activated carbon removes chlorine and breaks down chloramines releasing
ammonia which is then removed by plants, bacteria or some type of fractured
clay (ie: zeolite).

My question is whether fractured clay has any applicability in the removal
of chlorine or breaking down chloramine? The application would be a
pre-filter loaded with cat litter for an automated water change system for
10,000g, removing/neutralizing about 2ppm mono-chloramines.

Elaine? Frank?
TIA
--
www.NetMax.tk

[Vance]

NetMax wrote:
> Activated carbon removes chlorine and breaks down chloramines releasing
> ammonia which is then removed by plants, bacteria or some type of fractured
> clay (ie: zeolite).
>
> My question is whether fractured clay has any applicability in the removal
> of chlorine or breaking down chloramine? The application would be a
> pre-filter loaded with cat litter for an automated water change system for
> 10,000g, removing/neutralizing about 2ppm mono-chloramines.
>
> Elaine? Frank?
> TIA
If you wanted, you could have the water go through the activated carbon
first, then through the fractured clay.

[Charles]

On Wed, 6 Jul 2005 12:41:10 -0400, "NetMax"
> wrote:

>Activated carbon removes chlorine and breaks down chloramines releasing
>ammonia which is then removed by plants, bacteria or some type of fractured
>clay (ie: zeolite).
>
>My question is whether fractured clay has any applicability in the removal
>of chlorine or breaking down chloramine? The application would be a
>pre-filter loaded with cat litter for an automated water change system for
>10,000g, removing/neutralizing about 2ppm mono-chloramines.
>
>Elaine? Frank?
>TIA


You might get some good info from sci.chem group.


--
Charles

Does not play well with others.

[Elaine T]

NetMax wrote:
> Activated carbon removes chlorine and breaks down chloramines releasing
> ammonia which is then removed by plants, bacteria or some type of fractured
> clay (ie: zeolite).
>
> My question is whether fractured clay has any applicability in the removal
> of chlorine or breaking down chloramine? The application would be a
> pre-filter loaded with cat litter for an automated water change system for
> 10,000g, removing/neutralizing about 2ppm mono-chloramines.
>
> Elaine? Frank?
> TIA

Hmm...I'm going to make an educated guess based on basic chemistry.
Carbon is most effective at adsorbing organic molecules that have a
hydrophobic region, including halogens like chlorine or chloramine,
polyphenols, tannins, humic acid, volatile organic compounds, and other
dissolved organics. It adsorbs compounds primarily through hydrophobic
(Van der Waals) interactions, aided by physical trapping in very small
pores.

Fractured clay works primarily by cation exchange, so anything it
adsorbs needs to be positively charged, like ammonia, calcium, or
sodium. One of the big industrial uses of zeolites is water softening,
exchanging sodium for calcium.

Chlorine moves to and from a negatively charged state to a neutral
state. H+ + OCl- <--> HOCl. Chloramine T is not charged until it
reacts and releases ammonia. So, I wouldn't expect either of those to
be adsorbed onto clay.

Of course, I'm not an expert in water treatment and may have completely
overlooked something.

--
Elaine T __
http://eethomp.com/fish.html <'__><
rec.aquaria.* FAQ http://faq.thekrib.com

[John >]

pre-filter loaded with cat litter for an automated water change system for
> 10,000g, removing/neutralizing about 2ppm mono-chloramines.
>

Netmax, what are you up to??? 10,000g?? Care to share your project? When
you figure this one out you can help me design my next tank.
JOhn ><>

[NetMax]

"John ><>" > wrote in
message ...
> pre-filter loaded with cat litter for an automated water change system
> for
>> 10,000g, removing/neutralizing about 2ppm mono-chloramines.
>>
>
> Netmax, what are you up to??? 10,000g?? Care to share your project?
> When you figure this one out you can help me design my next tank.
> JOhn ><>


It's a friend's pond, closer to 15,000g actually. They are having some
trouble with Amquel+ and algae blooms, so I wanted to research some ideas
which might work better for them.

You know I love designing tanks, but I figured yours would keep you busy
for a little while. Last I checked, you were doing some serious
rejigging to your filtration.
--
www.NetMax.tk

[Elaine T]

NetMax wrote:
> "John ><>" > wrote in
> message ...
>
>>pre-filter loaded with cat litter for an automated water change system
>>for
>>
>>>10,000g, removing/neutralizing about 2ppm mono-chloramines.
>>>
>>
>>Netmax, what are you up to??? 10,000g?? Care to share your project?
>>When you figure this one out you can help me design my next tank.
>>JOhn ><>
>
>
>
> It's a friend's pond, closer to 15,000g actually. They are having some
> trouble with Amquel+ and algae blooms, so I wanted to research some ideas
> which might work better for them.
>
> You know I love designing tanks, but I figured yours would keep you busy
> for a little while. Last I checked, you were doing some serious
> rejigging to your filtration.

Have they considered a stock tank or two filled with water hyacinth as a
veggie filter? Once I got WH growing well in my water garden, I haven't
seen any algae since.

--
Elaine T __
http://eethomp.com/fish.html <'__><
rec.aquaria.* FAQ http://faq.thekrib.com

[NetMax]

"Elaine T" > wrote in message
.. .
> NetMax wrote:
>> "John ><>" > wrote in
>> message ...
>>
>>>pre-filter loaded with cat litter for an automated water change system
>>>for
>>>
>>>>10,000g, removing/neutralizing about 2ppm mono-chloramines.
>>>>
>>>
>>>Netmax, what are you up to??? 10,000g?? Care to share your project?
>>>When you figure this one out you can help me design my next tank.
>>>JOhn ><>
>>
>>
>>
>> It's a friend's pond, closer to 15,000g actually. They are having
>> some trouble with Amquel+ and algae blooms, so I wanted to research
>> some ideas which might work better for them.
>>
>> You know I love designing tanks, but I figured yours would keep you
>> busy for a little while. Last I checked, you were doing some serious
>> rejigging to your filtration.
>
> Have they considered a stock tank or two filled with water hyacinth as
> a veggie filter? Once I got WH growing well in my water garden, I
> haven't seen any algae since.
>
> --
> Elaine T __


Yup, they have about a dozen baskets of water hyacinths, but they grow
poorly (algae coats their root system). The only purpose they serve is
to hold fry, (which the adults still manage to scare out). I was
thinking of adding a weir for a plant stage which would then waterfall
into the main pond. It's the Amquel and the water changes which they are
finding problematic (and you would think you could automated something
for a 15,000g pond!).
--
www.NetMax.tk

[John >]

>
> It's a friend's pond, closer to 15,000g actually. They are having some
> trouble with Amquel+ and algae blooms, so I wanted to research some ideas
> which might work better for them.
>
> You know I love designing tanks, but I figured yours would keep you busy
> for a little while. Last I checked, you were doing some serious rejigging
> to your filtration.
> --
> www.NetMax.tk
Looking for a dealer for Pentair Aquatics Commercial Products. They are
recommending
1 - R440109 - 14000 Quiet one Aquarium Pump
2 - R176134 - M-4 Commercial Filter
4 - R175055 - Chamber 29" Carbon
1 - R177304A - QL-160 UV Sterilizer

Any idea where and how much this might cost?

[Frank]

Hi NetMax - I haven't been around any computers for the last few weeks.
Going back out of town again first light.... Nope, cat litter won't do
a thing as far as removing chlorine or chloramine. ............... Frank