Outstanding Performance of Filtralite® Mono Multi Demonstrated in Full-Scale Industrial Pilot at Llobregat (Spain).
Filtralite® Pure features a distinct porous structure that optimizes water flow through the filter bed, significantly improving contaminant retention. Thanks to the natural properties of its lightweight expanded clay composition, it enables higher volumes of water to pass through efficiently by maximizing the available contact surface area.
Background
The Llobregat DWTP in Spain treats challenging surface water from the Llobregat River — a source with high conductivity, organic content, microorganisms, and seasonal variability. Traditional sand filters at the plant created operational bottlenecks due to frequent backwashing and high resource consumption.
Solution
To optimize performance, ATL tested Filtralite® Mono Multi, an advanced dual-layer expanded clay media designed to:
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Increase filtration capacity
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Reduce backwash frequency
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Improve resilience under high solids and turbidity
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Lower energy and water use
Pilot Highlights
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Duration: 7 months (industrial-scale test)
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Results:
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Filtralite required 16 backwashes vs 45 for sand
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Treated 2.78 Hm³ of water in 3,900 hours
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No changes needed to existing infrastructure
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Energy and water savings up to 3×
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Outcome
Filtralite® delivered significant operational and environmental benefits, with a payback period of under 3 years and media life exceeding 20 years.
The pilot at Llobregat DWTP confirms that Filtralite® Mono Multi is a robust and cost-effective replacement for traditional sand media. It enhances water production capacity, reduces environmental impact, and supports sustainable water treatment practices.
Mohammed Kastawy Area Sales Manager – MENA Region Mobile: +971565503535 Email : mohammed.kastawy@saint-gobain.com LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com
