Water filtration medium and method of use

A water filtration medium for the removal of heavy metals and organic contaminants from ground water and surface supplies wherein:

• (a) particles of gamma form manganese dioxide, including particles ranging in size from 10 to 325 mesh, have been divided into fractions according to mesh size, said fractions including 10 to 40 mesh size, 40 to 100 mesh size, and 100 to 325 mesh size;
• (b) said particles have been treated with ferrous sulfate;
• (c) said treated particles have been washed with water to remove iron precipitates and fines;
• (d) said washed particles have been treated with about a 2 to 10% solution of a 50:50 weight mixture of sodium hydrosulfite and sodium bisulfite solution;
• (e) the treated particles have been neutralized with sodium hydroxide to remove any remaining acidity;
• (f) the neutralized particles have been washed with water to remove spent chemicals and undissolved metals, and (g) the washed particles have been dried.

A disposable water filtration cartridge comprising:

• a housing;
• and
• a water filtration medium, said water filtration medium comprises:
• (a) particles of gamma form manganese dioxide, including particles ranging in size from 10 to 325 mesh, have been divided into fractions according to mesh size, said fractions including 10 to 40 mesh size, 40 to 100 mesh size, and 100 to 325 mesh size;
• (b) said particles have been treated with ferrous ions;
• (c) said treated particles have been washed with water to remove iron precipitates and fines;
• (d) said washed particles have been treated with about a 2 to 10% solution of a 50:50 weight mixture of sodium hydrosulfite and sodium bisulfite solution;
• (e) the treated particles have been neutralized with sodium hydroxide to remove any remaining acidity;
• (f) the neutralized particles have been washed with water to remove spent chemicals and undissolved metals, and;
• (g) the washed particles have been dried.

A method of making a treating agent for removing heavy metal contaminants from water containing such contaminants, comprising the following steps:

• (a) treating gamma dioxide with a particle size range of about 10 to 325 mesh with ferrous sulfate;
• (b) washing the treated particles to remove fines;
• (c) contacting the said washed particles with a sodium hydrosulfite/sodium bisulfite solution;
• (d) neutralizing the contacted particles;
• (e) washing the neutralized particles to remove spent chemicals and undissolved metals;
• and
• (f) drying the washed, neutralized particles.

A water filtration medium capable of removing lead from water comprising:

• (a) particles of gamma form manganese dioxide;
• (b) said particles have been treated with ferrous sulfate;
• (c) said treated particles have been washed with water to remove iron precipitates and fines;
• (d) said washed particles have been treated with about a 2 to 10% solution of a 50:50 weight mixture of sodium hydrosulfite and sodium bisulfite solution;
• (e) the treated particles have been neutralized with sodium hydroxide to remove any remaining acidity;
• (f) the neutralized particles have been washed with water to remove spent chemicals and undissolved metals, and (g) the washed particles have been dried.

A method of purifying water derived from ground water or surface supplies of heavy metals and organic contaminants which comprises the step of filtering the water through a filter medium, said filter medium prepared by

• (a) treating particles of manganese dioxide with a solution of ferrous ions;
• (b) rinsing the treated particles with water;
• (c) contacting the rinsed particles with a sodium hydrosulfite/sodium bisulfite solution to remove residual soluble manganese;
• (d) adding sufficient alkaline solution to the contacted particles to neutralize remaining acidity;
• (e) washing the neutralized particles, and drying the resulting washed particles.

A disposable water filtration cartridge comprising:

• a housing;
• and
• a medium, said medium disposed within the housing, said medium comprising:
• (a) particles of gamma form manganese dioxide ranging in size between about 40 and 100 mesh, (b) said particles have been treated with ferrous sulfate, (c) said treated particles have been washed with water to remove iron precipitates and fines, (d) said washed particles have been treated with about a 2 to 100% solution of a 50:50 weight mixture of sodium hydrosulfite and sodium bisulfite solution, (e) the treated particles have been neutralized with sodium hydroxide to remove any remaining acidity, (f) the neutralized particles have been washed with water to remove spent chemicals and undissolved metals, and (g) the washed particles have been dried.

A disposable water filtration cartridge comprising:

• a housing;
• and
• a medium, said medium disposed within the housing, said medium comprising:
• (a) particles of gamma form manganese dioxide, wherein the particles include between about 10 and about 20 percent of particles in size between about 80 and about 100 mesh, (b) said particles have been treated with ferrous sulfate, (c) said treated particles have been washed with water to remove iron precipitates and fines;
• (d) said washed particles have been treated with about a 2 to 10% solution of a 50:50 weight mixture of sodium hydrosulfite and sodium bisulfite solution, (e) the treated particles have been neutralized with sodium hydroxide to remove any remaining acidity, (f) the neutralized particles have been washed with water to remove spent chemicals and undissolved metals, and (g) the washed particles have been dried.

A disposable water filtration cartridge comprising:

• a housing;
• and a
• medium, said medium disposed within the housing, said medium
• comprising:
• (a) particles of gamma form manganese dioxide, wherein the particles include between about 30 and about 60 percent of particles in size between about 60 and about 100 mesh, (b) said particles have been treated with ferrous sulfate, (c) said treated particles have been washed with water to remove iron precipitates and fines, (d) said washed particles have been treated with about a 2 to 10% solution of a 50:50 weight mixture of sodium hydrosulfite and sodium bisulfite solution, (e) the treated particles have been neutralized with sodium hydroxide to remove any remaining acidity, (f) the neutralized particles have been washed with water to remove spent chemicals and undissolved metals, and (g) the washed particles have been dried.

A method of making a treating agent for removing heavy metal contaminants from water containing such contaminants, comprising the following steps:

• (a) treating gamma dioxide with a particle size range of about 10 to 325 mesh with ferrous chloride;
• (b) washing the treated particles to remove fines;
• (c) contacting the said washed particles with a sodium hydrosulfite/sodium bisulfite solution;
• (d) neutralizing the contacted particles;
• (e) washing the neutralized particles to remove spent chemicals and undissolved metals;
• and
• (f) drying the washed, neutralized particles.