The direct replacement for sand.
Activated Filter Media Wholesale Supplier
Doubling the performance of sand filters without the need of additional investments in infrastructure. AFM® resists biofouling, biocoagulation and transient wormhole channelling of unfiltered water and never needs to be recharged or replaced.
Water Components South Africa (WCSA) has established itself as a premier importer and distributor of quality water treatment components and associated products. WCSA is the exclusive importer and wholesale distributor of Dryden Aqua Activated Filter Media (AFM) in South Africa. WCSA is the only water treatment components distributor in South Africa 100% commited to only the trade and resellers.
Contact our sales team on 021 001 8899 or via email online@watersa.co.za
THE HEALTHIEST SWIMMING EXPERIENCE
AFM® replaces sand in all sand filters
AFM® reduces the biological risk from bacteria and parasites as well as the chemical risk. AFM® does not channel so it is an effective barrier against Cryptosporidium and giardia.
AFM® does not incubate or discharge bacteria and will reduce the bacterial load of the product water. Also because of the better filtration performance, there are lower THM concentrations. AFM® also provides an excellent solution to remove metals and heavy metals from water.
What is AFM?
AFM® is a highly engineered product manufactured from a specific glass type, processed to obtain the optimum particle size and shape. It is then exposed to a 3-step activation process to increase its surface area by up to 300 times for superior mechanical and electro-static filtration performance.
The activated surface of AFM® is self-sterilizing which prevents bacteria mud-balling, coagulation and channeling of unfiltered water through the filter bed. Activation increases the surface area by up to 300 times for catalysis and adsorption reactions. Similar to activated carbon, the surface nano-structure adsorbs pollutants from the water but unlike carbon, AFM® is recharged by just back-washing with water.
Key benefits at a glance
- More than doubles the performance of an existing filtration system without the need for additional investments
- Is not subject to biodynamic instability and will never allow untreated water to pass the filter
- Substantially lowers chlorine oxidation demand by up to 50%
- Lowers backwash water demand by an average of 50%
- Is expected to last for the life of the filtration system
- Provides quick return on investment
What makes AFM® so effective?
Dryden Aqua Intellectual Property protects AFM® but we are happy to share some of the key points;
- We use predominantly green and brown container glass as it has the correct chemical and structural properties for our activation process.
- Particle shape and size distribution are critical for the best fluid hydraulics and solids retention. For example, solids can easily push their way through glass bead filter media but with a subangular AFM® media, the grains lock together to prevent the solids slipping through.
- The AFM® activation process increases the surface area available for adsorption by up to 300 times to 1‘000‘000 m2/m3. This means 300 times more surface area for the adsorption of dissolved organic pollutants. The huge surface area coupled with the magnetic attraction of the negative zeta potential makes AFM® the best filtration media for potable water treatment.
SELF-STERILIZING SURFACE FULLY RESISTANT TO BACTERIAL GROWTH
Unique 100% bio-resistant filter media
One of the main differences between AFM® and other filter media such as sand and crushed glass is its bio-resistance. When in contact with water flowing through the filter, a small amount of free radicals (O. and OH.) are formed on the surface of the grains. Thanks to their strong oxidation potential, free radicals protect AFM® from colonisation by bacteria and fully prevent the formation of biofilm.
- Prevents the transmission of pathogens
- Offers a stable 1 micron filtration rate
- Prevents the formation of DBPs and chlorine smells.
- Outlasts all other filter media.
ADAPTED TO ALL TYPES OF SAND FILTERS
For the best filtration results and energy savings :
Use ideally AFM® with a variable speed pump and set your pump’s speeds as follows using a flowmeter :
Filtration speed: 15 to 30m/h
Example: 20 x filter surface (m2)
= Filtration flowrate (m3/h)
Backwash speed : 40 to 50m/h
Example: 40 x filter surface (m2)
= Backwash flowrate (m3/h)
Important note:
For smaller filters (<800 mm diameter) and for all filters with nozzle plate beds, irrespective of filter diameter, use 50% of AFM® Grade 1 and 50% of AFM® Grade 2. AFM® 3 is required for larger diameter filters to ensure adequate water flow. AFM® is supplied in 21 kg and 25 kg bags or 1000 kg big bags. AFM® density = 1’250 kg/m3.
- GRADE 1 - 50% 0.4 - 0.8 mm
- GRADE 2 - 25% 0.7 - 2.0 mm
- GRADE 3 - 25% 2.0 - 4.0 mm
Dryden DAISY® filter circulation for private pools:
Operating criteria
- Filtration velocity: 1 – 30 m/h
- Backwash velocity: 40 – 50 m/h
- Backwash duration: 3 – 10 minutes
- Max. operating differential pressure: 0.5 bar
- Water pH limits: 3 – 9
- Water temperature limits: 1 – 100 C
- For AFM layering details, refer to IFU Instructions for Use Document
AFM® Grade 1 specification
- Bulk bed density: 1‘250 kg/m3
- Effective size: 0.45 mm
- Spherizity: 0.75 – 0.80
- Uniformity coefficient: 1.6 – 1.8
- Aspect ratio: 2 – 2.4
- Specific gravity: 2,4 kg/l
- Organic contamination: < 50g/ton
- Color purity: > 98%
- AFM® is supplied in 21 kg (47 lbs), 25 kg (55 lbs) or 1000kg (2200 lbs) bags
- AFM is available in 4 grades
THE HIGHEST PERFORMING FILTER MEDIA
AFM® offers the finest filtration
AFM® filters much finer than quartz or glass sand. The independent and best-known European laboratory for filtration tests IFTS (www.ifts-sls.com) has tested AFM®, quartz sand and various glass sands. The tests were conducted with fresh filter media without any biofilm. At 20m/h filtration velocity, without the addition of flocculants, the following results were achieved:
- AFM® ng: Filters 95% of all particles down to 1 micron.
- AFM® : Filters 95% of all particles down to 4 microns.
- Sand: Filters 95% of all particles down to 20 microns.
- Glassand: Filters 95% of all particles to 25 microns.
WHY IS ACTIVATION IMPORTANT?
Reduced chlorine consumption
It is easy to remove large particles but it is the sub 5 micron that are difficult to remove and in this particle size range AFM® excelled. Everything that can be filtered out and removed in the backwash process doesn’t have to be oxidised with chemicals. The greater filtration efficiency of AFM® therefore saves chlorine and acid. Chemical savings are approximately 20% to 30%.
Crystal clear water and the best air quality
Chlorine is an excellent disinfectant. But in reaction with organic substances it also produces undesirable, toxic reaction by-products called Trihalomethanes (THMs), including chloroform. Thanks to its very large activated surface, AFM® can remove far more organic substances than sand or glass sand. The better the filtration – the lower the chlorine consumption and less disinfection by-products are produced. AFM® reduces by up to 50% the formation of chloroform and other THMs.