Contaminants Removed by a Solar Water Distiller with Carbon Filter

Distillation is a physical process, so by using the sun to distill water it will make it ultra-pure. Nothing should be left in it except pure H20, but there are a few exceptions. People are concerned about pharmaceuticals and volatiles or pesticides, which can survive the distillation process since they are able to be distilled out with the water. Below are a few sources and information from other websites that may be useful to you in clearing this up.

Below are a few quotes or charts, with resources listed:

“Distillation Treatment and Removal of Contaminants from Drinking Water

“Distillation treatment typically removes most of the dissolved materials. In addition, the boiling process kills biological contaminants. Nevertheless, there are certain volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds that may not be removed by distillation (CDPH 2009). Organic compounds that boil at temperatures greater than the boiling point of water (some pesticides) can be effectively removed from the water (MSUE 2003). Organic compounds that boil at temperatures lower than the boiling point of water (ex., benzene and toluene) will be vaporized along with the water. If these harmful compounds are not removed prior to condensation, they will remain in the purified product (MSUE 2003).”

Read more here (external link):  https://www.iwapublishing.com/news/distillation-treatment-and-removal-contaminants-drinking-water

It is important to know that most volatiles can be removed from the product water by installing a simple carbon filter at the exit tube of the solar water distiller prior to it entering the collection vessel. These only cost a few dollars at your local hardware store. This is the most simple and inexpensive way to eliminate these contaminants once the water has been distilled and all other solids, chlorine, fluoride, microorganisms, bacteria, etc., removed. Carbon filters are made out of activated carbon/activated charcoal.

“What Will Activated Carbon Remove?

“Activated Carbon Adsorption Ratings

Scholarly articles on pharmaceuticals in drinking water

(many thanks to Ivonne Santiago-Eby for providing these sources)

Review of Endocrine-Disrupting-Compound Removal Technologies
in Water and Wastewater Treatment Plants: An EU Perspective

Endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) and pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) in the aquatic environment: implications for the drinking water industry and global environmental health