Birm Water Treatment Media, 1 Cubic Foot Box
Birm is an efficient and economical method or removing dissolved iron and manganese compounds from raw water supplies. It may be used in either gravity fed or pressurized water treatment systems. Birm acts as an insoluble catalyst to enhance the reaction between dissolved oxygen (D.O.) and the iron compounds. In ground waters, the dissolved iron is usually in the ferrous bicarbonate state due to an excess of free carbon dioxide and is not filterable. Birm acting as a catalyst between the oxygen and the soluble iron compounds, enhances the oxidation reaction of Fe++ to Fe+++ and produces ferric hydroxide which precipitates and may be easily filtered. The physical characteristics of Birm provide an excellent filter media which is easily cleaned by back washing to remove the precipitant. Birm is not consumed in the iron removal and therefore offers a tremendous economic advantage over many other iron removal methods.
Birm may also be used for manganese removal with the same dependability as iron removal. In these applications the water to be treated should have a pH of 8.0 to 9.0 for the best results. If the water also contains iron, the pH should be below 8.5. High pH conditions may cause the formation of colloidal iron which is very difficult to filter out. All other conditions remain the same for either manganese or iron removal.
Advantages:
- Under the proper conditions, no chemicals to purchase for maintenance. Regeneration not required.
- Iron removal efficiency is extremely high
- Negligible labor cost, only periodic back washing required
- Durable material with a long life and wide temperature range
- Weighs only 46-50 lb/cu. ft.
Physical Properties:
- Color.......................................Black
- Density....................................46-50 lbs/cu. ft.
- Effective Size..........................0.61 mm
- Uniform Coefficient................1.72
Conditions for Operation:
- Alkalinity should be greater than two times the combined sulfate and chloride concentration
- pH: 6.8+
- Dissolved Oxygen (D.O.) content must be equal to at least 15% of the iron (or iron and manganese content)
- Bed Depth: 30-36 in.
- Backwash Rate: 10-12 gpm sq. ft.
- Backwash Bed Expansion: 35-50% of bed depth
- Service Flow Rate: 3.5-5 gpm sq. ft.
