British Berkefeld® Super Sterasyl® Ceramic Filter
The Sterasyl® grade ceramic is designed to remove suspended solids and pathogenic bacteria.

Composition of the Sterasyl® ceramic contains pure silver. This silver is a specially formulated self-sterilizing (bacteriostatic) agent. The result is that bacterial growth is prevented from occurring within the Sterasyl® ceramic element (which is possible with the other ceramic filter elements.) More importantly, bacterial "grow-through" is eliminated. This silver content is about 0.07%, which is well within the allowable levels recommended by the World Health Organization and the E.P.A. Because of the silver, Sterasyl® filter elements do not require sterilization after cleaning.

The Sterasyl® ceramic is the ceramic used for the Super Sterasyl® filter element. Accordingly, this filter element will have, at a minimum, the filtration benefits of Sterasyl.

The Sterasyl® filter, when used in a Doulton HIP in-line housing (Model Designations: HIP/Sterasyl), is certified by the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) as meeting their Standard No 53 (health) criteria. Standard No 42 pertains to self-sterilizing (bacteriostatic) effects and particulate reduction. Standard No 53 pertains to cyst and turbidity reduction.


Super Sterasyl® Candle Water Filter Element

This cleanable filter element is designed to reduce suspended solids, pathogenic bacteria, organic chemicals, and improve taste and odor. The filter elements are produced using the latest ceramic techniques to provide a hollow porous ceramic which is fired at a temperature in excess of 10000C. They are designed to operate with water flow going from the outside to inside of the element. The ceramic shell exhibits a strictly controlled pore structure, so as to provide efficient sub-micron filtration, a proven defense against hard shelled parasites such as Cryptosporidium, as well as removing other less harmful, but equally unpleasant particulate debris, such as rust and dirt. The bore of the filter candle contains granular activated carbon that aids in the removal of chlorine, reduces organic chemicals and improves the color, taste, and odor of the source water. The Sterasyl® element has a unique domed ceiling assuring that leakage cannot occur as may happen with capped filters.

Maximum working pressure 125 psig
Maximum working temperature 1000oF
Minimum working temperature 400oF

Contaminant Reduction and Removal

Pathogenic bacteria
Cholera, Typhoid, Salmonella, Serratia, E.Coli, Fecal Coliform > 99.99% removal

Cysts
Cryptosporidium Parvum and Giardia Lamblia - 100% removal (based on tests by Arizona State University)

Sediment
Down to 0.9 micron, 100%; 0.5 - 0.8 micron with a filter efficiency of > 99.99% (based on tests by Spectrum Laboratories, Minneapolis, MN)

Organic Chemicals
Pesticides, herbicides, organic solvents, trihalomethanes

Other Chemicals: Chlorine


Bacterial Mitosis and "Grow-Through"

Mitosis is the name for the usual method of bacterial cell division. This division is characterized by resolving the chromatin of the cell nucleus into a threadlike form that condenses into chromosomes, each of which separates longitudinally into two parts, one part of each chromosome being retained in each of the two new daughter cells.

When conditions of growth (cell division) are right (proper environmental conditions , temperature, pressure, etc.) and sufficient nutrients, the "threadlike forms" can penetrate the ceramic structure of other ceramic shells and create bacterial cells on the inside of the element.

Sterasyl® grade filter elements incorporate pure silver into the porous ceramic shell to prevent "grow-through" from occurring.


British Berkefeld® Super Sterasyl® Ceramic Filter

At the core of the British Berkefeld® Super Sterasyl® ceramic filter element is the most basic of elements...EARTH. This is the same substance which artisans, first in Asia then in Europe, refined into exquisite porcelain and pottery of the Shoguns and Kings. This material is Diatomaceous Earth [D.E.], a fossil substance, made up of tiny silicon shells left by trillions of microscopic, one celled algae called diatoms that have inhabited the waters of the earth for the last 150 million years.

Diatoms have one property that sets them apart from other micro organisms. They weave microscopic shells which they use for the protection and locomotion. These shells are covered with a pattern of tiny holes so regular that even the slightest change in their design usually signifies a different species. As the diatoms died, their shells survived, slowly piling up in deposits at the bottom of geological lakes and lagoons. When these lakes dried up, what remained were huge deposits of "diatomaceous earth". Today there are over 1500 uses for Diatomaceous Earth, from abrasives for toothpaste, filtering agents for water and milk, heat insulators for kilns, to polishing agents in nail polishes, and many many more.

The latest designs of Super Sterasyl® filter elements incorporate pure silver impregnated into a porous ceramic outer shell [80,000,000 pores] that can trap bacteria down to as low as .22 of a micron in particle size [1/100,000 of an inch]. Laboratories consider a filtering medium with an effective pore size of .01 micron to .45 micron to be bacteriologically sterile and .45 micron to 1.0 micron to be bacteriologically safe. Regrowth of bacteria that becomes trapped either on the outside of the element or in the ceramic's pores is controlled by the silver which, on contact with water, releases small quantities of positively charged metals ions. These ions are taken into the enzyme system of the bacteria's cell and thereby neutralize it. The flow rate of the ceramic filter can be easily renewed by simply brushing its outer surface under running water. As the top layer of ceramic and the contaminants are brushed off and flushed away, a new layer becomes available. This process can be repeated many times before the ceramic material is exhausted.


A Closer Look Inside

KIESELGUHR CERAMIC - STAGE ONE
Super Sterasyl® ceramic is made from Kieselguhr Diatomaceous Earth and fired at incredibly high temperatures. Over 80,000 overlapping pores make up each element. This feature provides absolute mechanical filtration to .9 of a micron (.5 ANSI). 99.99% rejection of bacteria and cysts. Bacteria and any other foreign particles are trapped on the outside of the element while the water passes through the ceramic wall to the inside of the element.

WHY BACTERIOSTATIC?
This simply means self sterilizing. The entire ceramic wall is impregnated with pure silver. Silver has been long proven as a disinfectant which insures that bacteria trapped in the ceramic's pores are killed thereby eliminating any threat of bacteria colonization.


THE CORE - STAGE TWO
Inside the Ceramic shell is a post filter which is manufactured by using a treated granular carbon to form a tightly packed matrix. This post filter provides Chemical Reduction of chlorine, pesticides, solvents, etc.

Key Features

Sterasyl® ceramic filters have been available in the United States since World War II and the ceramic shell has been certified by the National Sanitation Foundation [N.S.F] under Standards 53 and 42 for specified products and claims:

Super Sterasyl® water filters are manufactured to the following international standards and have been tested and approved by the following independent bodies or agencies:

British Berkefeld filters have stood the test of time. Used by Royalty, Missionaries and Relief Organizations for over 140 years in over 150 countries throughout the world.


I Berkey Home I Assembly/Operations I Filters I Cleaning I Technical I FAQ I

British Berkefeld® products are not available in California or Iowa



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