Work sheet E 3.

2 • Edition 01/2009

Akdolit® Hydro-Calcit
Quantities to use

1. General 2.4 Temperature

Using Akdolit® Hydro-Calcit for the adjustment of the Diagrams 1 and 2 is based on a water tempera-
pH value of calcite saturation (pHc) resp. to increase ture of 10 °C. For other temperatures in the range
pH values to 8,0 (on the basis of differentiated requi- between 5 °C and 15 °C, quantities to use shown
rements of drinking water regulation) by filtration in the diagram need to be multiplied by the factor
requires a defined contact time: between the water given in table 1 below.
and the filtering material. Contact time: EBCT (Empty
bed contact time:) refers to empty filter bed volume
Table 1:
and is dependent on both the grain size of the filtering Water temperature [°C] Factor
material as well as the chemical and physical cha- 5 1,48
racteristics of the water to be conditioned.
6 1,35
2. Range of application 7 1,24
8 1,15
2.1 Base capacity up to pH 8,2 (Kb 8,2)
9 1,07
Diagrams 1 and 2 shows the contents of free car- 10 1,00
bonic acid, at which, by observing the carbonate
11 0,94
hardness, which already exists, neutralisation by
means of filtration with Akdolit® Hydro-Calcit is 12 0,88
recommended. The required increase of carbona- 13 0,84
te hardness in soft water, as well as the adapta- 14 0,79
tion of pipe material to the requirements for the 15 0,75
drinking water regulations with respect to pH
value, is taken into account. At a high content of 2.5 Iron and manganese content
carbonic acid the optimum range indicated can be
With simultaneous neutralisation, deferrisation
adjusted by means of a subsequent mechanical
and demanganisation, the iron and manganese
step of neutralisation.
content in raw water should not exceed 0,2 mg/l
2.2 Calcium content [ Ca 2+ ] and 0,05 mg/l respectively. For raw water with hig-
her contents of iron and manganese a subsequent
Diagrams 1 and 2 apply for
filtration with subsequent neutralisation should
[ Ca 2+ ] ≤ 0,75 mol/m3 be planned. In plants with smaller conditioning
capacity, a single step conditioning for iron con-
2.3 Sum [alkalinity] Ks 4,3 + 2 × Kb 8,2 [acidity]
tents up to 2 mg/l is allowable with the following
( m–2p Wert )
cautions. The quantity to use, under these circum-
Diagrams 1 and 2 apply for stances, has to be increased by up to 100 kg per
m – 2p ≥ 0,50 mol/m3 m³/h conditioning capacity. Renewing the material
in such plants as and when required is economic-
With very soft raw water, with very low carbonic
ally justifiable.
acid content, application range should be adjusted
by applying doses of CO2 gas. This allows in parti-
cular, for the adjustment of an equilibrium of calci-
umcarbonate saturation of pH value (pHc) < 9,0

© 2009 Rheinkalk Akdolit GmbH & Co KG page 1

 Work sheet E 3.2 • Edition 01/2009

Akdolit® Hydro-Calcit
Quantities to use

2.5 Sulphate concentrations 7. Example of calculation

For raw underground water containing calcium
sulphate, our engineering department will need
to establish if use of Akdolit® Hydro-Calcit will be
able to produce permanent neutralisation. Such
waters at low alkalinity are characterised by high
calcium and sulphate concentration.
Result of examination of water:
Temperature 12 °C
Total hardness 3 °dH
Total alkaline earth 0,54 mol/m3
Calcium 18 mg/l

3. Application of diagrams 1+2 Alkalinity (Ks 4,3) 0,25 mol/m3

For values of Kb 8,2 < 0,10 mmol/l a content of Acidity (Kb 8,2) 0,30 mol/m3

0,10 mmol/l has to be introduced. (free carbonic acid) 13,2 mg/l

4. Calculation of quantity to use Space required:

The required contact time: can be determined from EBCT for 10°C of Diagramm 1 11,5 min
diagram 1 resp. 2 using the target of conditioning, by
Factor for 12 °C water temperature × 0,88
value of CO2 and the intersection with the alkalinity
Factor ÷ 60 min/h
curve. For the design of a plant the quantity which
needs to be used can be calculated using this method Factor × 1000 l/m3
(see example of calculation).
Space required = 170 l/m3/h
Alternatively, the quantity to be used can also be read
in kg per m³/h conditioning capacity and converted
into the area required. Bulk weight × 1,3 kg/l

5. Consumption Quantity to be used = 220 kg/m3/h

• per g CO2* ca. 2,5 g
respectively
• per mol Kb 8,2* ca. 110,0 g
(including backwash losses) Quantity to be used

6. Hardening for 10 °C of diagram 2 250 kg/m3/h

• per g/m3 CO2* ca. 0,128 °dH Factor for 11°C Water temperature
of Table 1 × 0,88
• per mol/m3 Kb 8,2* ca. 1,0 mol/m3 Ca2+
• per mol/m3 Kb 8,2* ca. 2,0 mol/m3 HCO3- Quantity to use: = 220 kg/m3/h
* converted
Bulk weight ÷ 1,3 kg/l

Space required = 170 l/m3/h

© 2009 Rheinkalk Akdolit GmbH & Co KG page 2

 Work sheet E 3.2 • Edition 01/2009

Akdolit® Hydro-Calcit
Quantities to use

Diagram 1:  Empty Bed Contact Time: for Akdolit® Hydro-Calcit grade 0,5 - 3,15 mm
pH = 8.0 (T=10°C)
alkalinity (Ks 4,3)
1 2 3 (mmol/l)
1 1
4
2 0,75
3 0,5
15
4 0,25
- 300 5 0
5

10
- 200
EBCT (min)

(kg/m³h)
5
- 100

CO ²
(kb 8,2)
0 0
0,1 0,15 0,2 0,25 0,3 0,35 0,4 0,45 0,5 0,55 0,6 0,65 (mmol/l)
4,4 6,6 8,8 11 13,2 15,4 17,6 19,8 22 24,2 26,4 28,6 (mg/l)

© 2009 Rheinkalk Akdolit GmbH & Co KG page 3

 Work sheet E 3.2 • Edition 01/2009

Akdolit® Hydro-Calcit
Quantities to use

Diagram 1: Empty Bed Contact Time: for Akdolit® Hydro-Calcit grade 0,5 - 3,15 mm
pH = pHc (T=10°C)
1 2 alkalinity (Ks 4,3)
25 (mmol/l)
1 1
2 0,75

- 500 3 0,5

3 4 0,25

5 0

20
4

- 400

15

- 300
(kg/m³h)

10

- 200
EBCT (min)

5
- 100

0 0
0,1 0,2 0,3 0,4 0,5 0,6 0,7 0,8 0,9 kb 8,2 (mmol/l)
4,4 8,8 13,2 17,6 22 26,4 26,4 30,8 39,6 CO ² (mg/l)

Experts of the Purest Water

Rheinkalk Akdolit GmbH & Co. KG
Kasselburger Weg | 54570 Pelm | Germany
POB 1149 | 54561 Gerolstein | Germany
Tel.: +49 (0) 65 91 - 40 20
Fax: +49 (0) 65 91 - 52 74
akdolit@lhoist.com | www.akdolit.com

Akdolit® is a registered trademark of Lhoist Recherche et Développement S.A. © 2009 Rheinkalk Akdolit GmbH & Co KG page 4