BEA CARBON “New Generation”
An innovation in the world of marine aquarium filtration, designed to offer an advanced solution to aquarium enthusiasts.
The use of carbon in water filtration is a very ancient practice and one that, even in our sector, has been practiced since the dawn of the hobby.
Despite its importance, its widespread use and the high adsorption capacities it possesses, it seems that, at least in our sector, research has been at a standstill for several years.
Apart from some small changes/improvements in the selection of source materials and the choice of pellets, there have been no major innovations in the last twenty years.
Lately, however, thanks to more stringent environmental regulations and the consequent development of new filtration technologies specific for the chemical or pharmaceutical industries, we have been able to observe an engineering of products based on activated carbon .
Similarly, the development and improvement of production techniques has been highlighted, with the appearance of innovative composite products , developed for advanced technical applications that require high performance.
We have therefore chosen to launch ourselves into the experimentation of a new composite material , with the aim of fully exploiting the technical potential of new research, and offering a modern reinterpretation of a must in aquarium keeping and fluid purification.
Designed to overcome the limitations of traditional filtration systems and offer an optimized experience for reef aquarium enthusiasts, we are excited to introduce the BEA Carbon “New Generation” .
It is a cube made of composite material, with an internal honeycomb structure .
With its dimensions of 5x5x5 cm it integrates perfectly with the most common filtering systems and is destined to redefine the standards of adsorbents.
Advantages of Extrusion:
Although it involves further processing of the product, the choice to work with an extruded product is not only linked to the structure of the product, but also to its adsorption capacities .
The extrusion process allows us to obtain a superior product from a technical point of view , but it also allows us to use balanced mixtures of different carbon materials and insert particular ions, thus optimising the distribution of the pores inside the cube and its adsorption capacities.
We did not want to limit the adsorption capacity of the product by limiting ourselves to the use of a single material, so we chose to work on different mixtures , in order to be able to balance the presence of micro, meso and macro pores, varying the percentages of the different components (lignin, coconut, mineral) and integrating them with specific ions.
This has allowed us to obtain an extremely versatile product with superior efficacy.
Advanced Composition:
The composition of BEA Carbon "New Generation" is the result of a meticulous selection of the best carbon materials.
Based on the most important international evaluation indices such as: iodine/methylene blue/phenol/benzene number, surface area (BET) and total pore volume, we have selected the best raw materials (lignin, coconut, mineral) and integrated them in proportions studied to maximize and optimize the distribution of the pores, improving the adsorption of the most common contaminants in the reef aquarium sector.
Pretreatments, thermal activation of individual components, and engineering with specific ions and functional groups enrich the blend, further enhancing its contaminant retention capabilities.
Internal honeycomb structure:
What immediately fascinated us about these new composites and what pushed us to develop a specific version for use in the reef aquarium sector was their internal honeycomb structure.
This configuration maximizes the available adsorbent surface, facilitating the flow of water and elegantly circumventing the classic problem of preferential channels followed by the water when using pellets or granules.
Not only is the flow of water inside the material increased, but the available surface area, adsorption speed, retention capacity and overall product effectiveness are optimised.
Molecular engineering and ionic modifications:
Molecular engineering is a field of engineering and materials science that focuses on both the design and manipulation of molecular structures to create novel materials with specific functions, and the modification of existing materials to improve their performance or give them new properties.
Although it is common in other sectors that require advanced technical solutions for fluid filtration, in our field it is still a practice that is rarely used.
In the BEA Carbon "New Generation" , ions, specific functional groups, pores and transport channels have been optimized to capture a wider range of harmful substances.
This includes in addition to some heavy metals (Hg, Pb, Cd, As, Cr, …) organic environmental contaminants, allelochemicals, organic compounds and toxic metabolites produced by corals and other organisms.
Advantages compared to classic activated carbons:
To summarize BEA Carbon "New Generation" represents a significant technological innovation that offers numerous advantages in terms of efficiency, effectiveness and ease of use.
Reduction of preferential channels:
The honeycomb design of the BEA Carbon "New Generation" prevents the formation of preferential channels, through which water could flow without interacting effectively with the adsorbent material, increasing the overall filtration effectiveness.
Greater adsorbent surface:
Thanks to its unique internal honeycomb structure, the contact surface available for the adsorption of contaminants is maximized.
This allows for more effective and rapid removal of toxins and pollutants.
Optimized pore distribution:
The extrusion technology and careful selection of materials allow for a balanced distribution of micro, meso and macropores.
This balance ensures the adsorption of a much wider range of molecules, from small organic pollutants to heavy metals, offering greater versatility of use than traditional activated carbons.
Long-lasting performance:
Molecular engineering and ionic modifications to BEA Carbon “New Generation” optimize its adsorption capabilities, ensuring sustained performance over time.
This results in a greater adsorption capacity before the need for replacement, reducing maintenance frequency and associated operating costs, especially when used in “slow intake” mode.
High versatility and compatibility:
The size and shape of the cube have been designed to ensure easy integration into the most common filtering systems used by enthusiasts.
This makes the BEA Carbon “New Generation” an affordable option that can be easily integrated into a wide variety of filter systems.