Nucleation Assisted Crystallization

On your dishes, faucets, shower walls, or coffee machines, if you have ever experienced white spots, then you have most certainly experienced hard water. Hard water consists mainly of calcium and magnesium, which form limescale and the chalky build-up on the heads and sinks of your tub. Over time, in pipes and plumbing, hard water will cause the scale to build up, increase your overall costs and shorten the life of your appliances.

Water softeners have been used for treating hard water since the early 1900s. Several types of water softeners are available, including salt-based ion exchange and electromagnetic water softeners. However, advancements in hard water treatment have been made over the last two decades. Enabling consumers to enjoy many of the advantages of a water softener without using salt. This technique is called Water Conditioning. The advantages of conditioning over softening are that it is less costly, does not require constant maintenance, and is much safer for the climate. There are a few water conditioning techniques that have been introduced to the market to date, but none are as successful as Nucleation Assisted Crystallization (NAC). In this article, we will address what this technology is, how it works, and the comparison with traditional water softeners, including experts’ opinions.

 

What is a Nucleation Assisted Crystallization System and how does it work?

The Nucleation Assisted Crystallization (NAC) System is a non-salt-based system that uses unique technology to transform hard dissolved minerals into harmless micro-crystals that are relatively insoluble. NAC is a media designed to reduce the negative effects of scaling from hard water without using salt and without removing the healthy minerals from the water. The system is an ideal way to protect expensive equipment from lime scale while cutting maintenance costs.

 

Working Principle: How does FILTERSORB SP3® NAC work?

 

When the hard water undergoes throw FILTERSORB® SP3 media beads in the pressure vessel, provide nucleation sites that cause dissolved calcium, magnesium, and bicarbonate to transform into micro-crystals. Once formed and detached from the surface of FILTERSORB® SP3 media beads, the crystals will not adhere to any other surfaces, even in the case of hot water applications.

When hard water is treated using NAC media, it neutralizes the negative effects of the hard water. The calcium and magnesium in the water combine on the surface of the NAC media beads and are eventually released back into the water in the form of non-soluble micro-crystals. In addition, the formed crystals provide essential minerals to the water and making it the healthiest water available. Above all, FILTERSORB® SP3 does not add up any sodium in the water as conventional softeners do.

 

 

FILTERSORB-SP3® (NAC) vs Traditional Water Softener

The conventional sodium-based water softeners remove minerals from hard water through an ion-exchange process. A water softener, passes water through a polymer resin bed which gives off a sodium particle in exchange for hardness minerals. This treatment needs salt, energy, and a cycle of regeneration that flushes water down the drain regularly. In many regions around the US, water softener usage is prohibited because treatment plants are unable to extract salt and this water is unusable for irrigation.

While is FILTERSORB® SP3 NAC, the water is considered conditioned not softened. It simply preserves the mineral contents of water, making the treated water the healthiest mineral water available.

 

Comparison Table

 

FILTERSORB-SP3® NAC

Water Softeners

Methodology

Transform Calcium and Magnesium hardness into non-soluble micro-crystals

Substitutes essential minerals (Calcium and Magnesium) into Sodium

Wastewater

No Wastewater

Drainage required

Electricity

No Electricity Required

Electricity Required

Maintenance

Effective average lifespan of FILTERSORB-SP3® is 5 to 7 years

Periodically refilling required

Disadvantage

None

• Removes essential minerals from water
• Expensive
• Adds sodium to water
• pH drop
• Required maintenance
• Requires electricity and gallons of water drain
• Reverse Osmosis Required
• Potential health risk for people
• Non-environmental friendly
• Pollutes water supply
• Treatment causes high salt levels in drinking water
• Prohibit to use in certain in locations

Advantages

• Does not removes essential minerals from water
• Prevents scale formation
• Environmentally friendly
• Safe for health
• Cost-Effective
• Permitted to use all around the world
• No pH change
• No TDS change
• No salt
• No electricity
• No maintenance
• No waste of water and water pollution
• Drinking water certified to NSF/ANSI/CAN 61-2018

• Scale formation prevented
• Soaps foam better

 

Point-of-Entry (POE) Systems Based on NAC



RAPIDSOFT®

Flow Rate: 0.4 – 170 (m3/h) (1,76 – 748,48 GPM)

RAPIDSOFT (SOFTNOR) is scale prevention system based on Nucleation Assisted Crystallization Technology (FILTERSORB® SP3 ). Flexible option for point-of-entry or point-of-use installation. Models are available different sizes. Tanks can be plumbed in parallel for achieving flow rates up to 170 m3/h.

  • • Units come with pre-filled media
  • • NAC media 5 – 7 years
  • • 1 – 4″ connection size
  • • Drinking water certified to NSF/ANSI/CAN 61-2018
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RAPIDSOFT® Plus

Flow Rate: 0.4 – 170 (m3/h) (1,76 – 748,48 GPM)

RapidSoft-Plus is a scale prevention system combine with corrosion control (TRAPPSORB). The perfect alternative to conventional water softener by maintaining necessary minerals. RapidSoft-Plus performs passivation by adding Magnesium in water. Models are available different sizes. Tanks can be plumbed in parallel for achieving flow rates up to 170 m3/h.

  • • Units come with pre-filled media
  • • NAC media 5 – 7 years
  • • 1 – 4″ connection size
  • • Drinking water certified to NSF/ANSI/CAN 61-2018
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Point-of-Use (POU) Systems Based on NAC



Special Filter 510 & 520

Flow Rate: 3.7 – 6.5 LPM (0.97 – 1.7 GPM)

Special Filter a combination of high-performance activated Carbon block integrated with FILTERSORB® SP3 anti-limescale beads, you get fresh, crystal clear water 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Special Filter has a high capacity in the reduction of Scale, Chlorine, Lead, and Heavy Metals, Bad Taste and Odour, Cysts, and organics. Models are available from 3.7 to 6.5 LPM.

  • • Filters come with pre-filled media
  • • Capacity: 12,000 to 25,000 liters (3170 to 6604 gallons)
  • • Filtration 5 µm
  • • Drinking water certified to NSF/ANSI/CAN 61-2018
  • • 3/8” Speedfit connections

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Special Filter-520UF

Flow Rate: 9.5 LPM (2.50 GPM)

Special Filter-520UF employs three different filtration technologies. This POU filter is a combination of high quality UF (Ultra-Filtration) technology with the top performance water purification activated Carbon block integrated with FILTERSORB® SP3 beads inside. For you to get fresh, crystal clear water 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

  • • Filters come with pre-filled media
  • • Capacity: 72,000 liters (19020 gallons)
  • • Filtration: 0.1 µm
  • • Drinking water certified to NSF/ANSI/CAN 61-2018
  • • 3/8” Speedfit connections

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Special-CC

Flow Rate: 2 LPM (0.52 GPM)

Special-CC is a Point-of-Use (POU), compact, economical and chemical-free filter cartridge to prevent scale build-up due to hard water. Special-CC filter is equipped with two high-quality water filtration media. Firstly, FILTERSORB® SP3 NAC for scale prevention. Secondly, iron-coated coconut shell-based Catalytic Carbon for the reduction of chlorine, chloramines, Disinfection by Products (DBPs), Trihalomethanes (THMs) and organics.

  • • Units come with pre-filled media
  • • Capacity: 30,000 liters (7,925 gallons)
  • • Drinking water certified to NSF/ANSI/CAN 61-2018
  • • 3/8” Speedfit connections

Click here for details