Water filter materials and water filters containing a mixture of microporous and mesoporous carbon particles

Abstract

A filter and filter material for providing or treating potable water is provided. The filter includes a housing having an inlet and an outlet, a filter material disposed within the housing, the filter material formed at least in part from a mixture of a plurality of mesoporous and microporous activated carbon particles. Preferably, at least some of the mesoporous activated carbon filter particles are coated with a cationic polymer, and even more preferably, at least some of the particles are coated with a cationic polymer and silver or a silver containing material. Kits comprising filters and information relating to the reduction, killing or removal of bacteria, viruses, microbials, and TTHM are also provided.

1 . A filter for providing potable water, comprising: 
 (a) a housing having an inlet and an outlet; and    (b) a filter material disposed within said housing, said filter material comprising from about 25% to about 75%, by weight, of a plurality of microporous activated carbon particles and from about 25% to about 75%, by weight, of a plurality of mesoporous activated carbon filter particles.    
   
   
       2 . The filter of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of microporous activated carbon particles are present in a concentration of from about 30% to about 55%, more preferably from about 30% to about 50%, by weight.  
   
   
       3 . The filter of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of microporous activated carbon particles are coconut based activated carbon particles.  
   
   
       4 . The filter of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of the activated carbon filter particles are coated at least partially or entirely with a cationic polymer cationic polymer selected from the group consisting of: polyvinylamine, poly(N-methylvinylamine), polyallylamine, polyallyldimethylamine, polydiallylmethylamine, polydiallyldimethylammonium chloride, polyvinylpyridinium chloride, poly(2-vinylpyridine), poly(4-vinylpyridine), polyvinylimidazole, poly(4-aminomethylstyrene), poly(4-aminostyrene), polyvinyl(acrylamide-co-dimethylaminopropylacrylamide), polyvinyl(acrylamide-co-dimethyaminoethylmethacrylate), polyethyleneimine, polylysine, DAB-Am and PAMAM dendrimers, polyaminoamides, polyhexamethylenebiguandide, polydimethylamine-epichlorohydrine, aminopropyltriethoxysilane, N-(2-aminoethyl)-3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane, N-trimethoxysilylpropyl-N,N,N-trimethylammonium chloride, bis(trimethoxysilylpropyl)amine, chitosan, grafted starch, the product of alkylation of polyethyleneimine by methylchloride, the product of alkylation of polyaminoamides with epichlorohydrine, cationic polyacrylamide with cationic monomers, dimethyl aminoethyl acrylate methyl chloride (AETAC), dimethyl aminoethyl methacrylate methyl chloride (METAC), acrylamidopropyl trimethyl ammonium chloride (APTAC), methacryl amodopropyl trimethyl ammonium chloride (MAPTAC), diallyl dimethyl ammonium chloride (DADMAC), ionenes, silanes and mixtures thereof.  
   
   
       5 . The filter of  claim 4 , wherein the cationic polymer is selected from the group consisting of: polyaminoamides, polyethyleneimine, polyvinylamine, polydiallyldimethylammonium chloride, polydimethylamine-epichlorohydrin, polyhexamethylenebiguanide, poly-[2-(2-ethoxy)-ethoxyethlyl-guanidinium]chloride.  
   
   
       6 . The filter of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the microporous activated carbon filter particles, the mesoporous activated carbon filter particles, or both are coated with silver or a silver containing material.  
   
   
       7 . The filter of  claim 1 , wherein the sum of the mesopore and the macropore volumes of said plurality of mesoporous activated carbon filter particles is between about 0.2 mL/g and about 2 mL/g.  
   
   
       8 . The filter of  claim 1 , wherein the filter material has a BRI of greater than about 99%, and a VRI of greater than about 90%.  
   
   
       9 . The filter of  claim 1 , wherein the filter material has a F-B3LR of greater than about 2 logs, and a F-VLR of greater than about 1 log.  
   
   
       10 . The filter of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of mesoporous activated carbon filter particles are basic and have a point of zero charge between about 9 and about 12, an ORP between about 290 mV and about 175 mV.  
   
   
       11 . The filter of  claim 1 , further comprising other materials selected from the group consisting of activated carbon powders, activated carbon granules, activated carbon fibers, zeolites, activated alumina, activated magnesia, diatomaceous earth, activated silica, hydrotalcites, glass, polyethylene fibers, polypropylene fibers, ethylene maleic anhydride copolymer fibers, sand, clay and mixtures thereof,  
   
   
       12 . The filter of  claim 11 , wherein at least a portion of the other materials are coated with a material selected from the group consisting of silver, a silver containing material, a cationic polymer and mixtures thereof.  
   
   
       13 . A filter material comprising from about 25% to about 75%, by weight, of a plurality of microporous activated carbon particles and from about 25% to about 75%, by weight, of a plurality of mesoporous activated carbon filter particles.  
   
   
       14 . The filter material of  claim 13 , further comprising other materials selected from the group consisting of activated carbon powders, activated carbon granules, activated carbon fibers, zeolites, activated alumina, activated magnesia, diatomaceous earth, activated silica, hydrotalcites, glass, polyethylene fibers, polypropylene fibers, ethylene maleic anhydride copolymer fibers, sand, clay and mixtures thereof,  
   
   
       15 . The filter material of  claim 13 , wherein at least a portion of the other materials, the microporous activated carbon particles, or the mesoporous activated carbon particles are coated with a material selected from the group consisting of silver, a silver containing material, a cationic polymer and mixtures thereof.  
   
   
       16 . A kit comprising: 
 i) a filter according to  claim 1;  and    ii) a package for containing the filter; and    wherein either the package or the filter housing comprises information that the filter or filter material provides: bacterial reduction; virus reduction; microbial reduction; bacterial removal; virus removal; microbial removal; killing of bacteria, killing of viruses, killing of microbials, TTHM removal, TTHM reduction, or any combination of these.    
   
   
       17 . A kit comprising: 
 i) filter material according to  claim 13;  and    ii) a package for containing the filter; and    wherein either the package or a housing for the filter comprises information that the filter or filter material provides: bacterial reduction; virus reduction; microbial reduction; bacterial removal; virus removal; microbial removal; killing of bacteria, killing of viruses, killing of microbials, TTHM removal, TTHM reduction, or any combination of these.