Silver impregnation of carbon

Is this a viable quest. These folks don't think so.

<http://www.home-water-purifiers-and-filters.com/carbon-water-filter.php>

It might be possible to convert the nitrate to a halide and go from there to pure colloidal silver.

I read their statement. Possibly they are wanting to sell more carbon.

I have built a generator that produces ionic silver. It takes some time and energy. Just trying to simplify it.

Keep in mind that at 600C, your carbon matrix is breaking down, even in a reducing atmosphere, particularly with a good oxidizer like silver nitrate present. Your pore structure (of the carbon) will change and the efficacy of the system goes down when pore size/ surface area of the carbon is reduced.

Can you consider a two-step process... regular carbon then a sintered silver or ceramic/ silver matrtix? Of course, upstream you need a particulate filter to take out all the big stuff that will clog the carbon and silver matrices, so I guess it is really a three step process.

Just a though.

The idea I have is to pre-filter with a slow sand filter and even a roughing filter if the water is very turbid. The carbon filter is a finishing filter to remove excess chlorine.

It is my understanding that silver is added to the carbon to prevent biological build up on the carbon. I am not sure if the silver wold be needed since the water would already be chlorinated.

You mention below that you have done some DIY colloidal silver generation - I was going to suggest that you go that route, possibly getting an OEM deal to source from a high-quality producer like ASAP, and evaporate the water, leaving the nano-silver impregnating the charcoal, without requiring the temperatures or chemical problems of dealing with nitrates.

Yes I probably need to look at it again. With the system I have I can generate 120 ppm ionic silver in water. I estimate 2 liters of solution for about 20 cents. It does take a few hours to produce but much less energy than firing silver nitrate.

Update: I think I have found a soluton. A way to remove the nitrates from the silver nitrate chemically without all of the heat and energy.

Hi! Was going through this interesting Discussion.

Could you inform how you can prepare ionic silver / nano silver system.

This information could be of tremendous help.

Regards,

Sil Jal

parichem@hotmail.com