Aqualine 10" Standard Activated Alumina Fluoride Reduction Water Filter Cartridge

Reduce fluoride in drinking water with the Aqualine 10" Standard Activated Alumina Fluoride Reduction Water Filter Cartridge, designed specifically for low-flow drinking-water filtration systems.

The Aqualine AAL contains 550 grams of pre-conditioned fine mesh activated alumina, a highly porous adsorbent media designed to reduce fluoride as water passes through the cartridge.

For effective treatment, flow rate is critical. The cartridge is rated at 0.25 gpm and, for maximum filtration efficiency, a flow rate of less than 1 litre per minute is recommended.

The AAL is best suited to benchtop and dedicated underbench drinking-water systems rather than higher-flow kitchen faucet or whole-house applications.

For improved finished-water taste, the AAL should be followed by a 0.5 micron carbon block cartridge, which can remove taste introduced during activated alumina treatment.

Aqualine AAL

The Aqualine AAL is a non-regenerable fluoride and arsenic reduction cartridge manufactured entirely from FDA-grade materials and media.

At the centre of the cartridge is 550 grams of pre-conditioned fine mesh activated alumina.

Activated alumina is a highly porous and adsorbent form of aluminium oxide. Its large surface area allows fluoride to be adsorbed from the water as it passes through the media.

The cartridge also incorporates a 100 micron reticulated poly foam pre-filter and 20 micron spun-bonded polypropylene post-filter.

Laboratory evaluations of the specially pre-conditioned media have demonstrated fluoride capacity as high as 11,000 ppm F+, with effluent levels below 0.2 ppm from a 10 ppm F+ feed under the evaluated conditions.

Why Choose This Water Filter Cartridge?

• Fluoride reduction — specifically designed to reduce fluoride in drinking water.
• Activated alumina media — contains 550 grams of pre-conditioned fine mesh activated alumina.
• Low-flow treatment — designed to maximise contact time between the water and activated alumina.
• Recommended flow below 1 L/min — helps maximise filtration efficiency.
• 0.25 gpm rated flow.
• FDA-grade construction — manufactured entirely from FDA-grade materials and media.
• 100 micron pre-filter — reticulated poly foam provides initial particulate filtration.
• 20 micron post-filter — spun-bonded polypropylene retains media and provides additional filtration.
• Fluoride capacity of 5,500 ppm — based on the specified test conditions.
• Arsenic reduction capability — demonstrated reduction to below 0.02 ppm from a 0.12 ppm feed.
• Standard 10" format — 9¾" cartridge designed to fit standard 10" housings.
• Ideal for dedicated drinking-water systems — particularly benchtop and low-flow underbench applications.

How It Works

The Aqualine AAL uses adsorption to reduce fluoride.

Water first passes through a 100 micron reticulated poly foam pre-filter before entering the activated alumina treatment media.

The cartridge contains 550 grams of pre-conditioned fine mesh activated alumina. Activated alumina has a highly porous structure with a large surface area that adsorbs fluoride from the water.

After treatment, water passes through a 20 micron spun-bonded polypropylene post-filter.

The filtration path can be represented as:

100 Micron Pre-Filter → 550g Activated Alumina → 20 Micron Post-Filter

For best finished-water quality, a separate 0.5 micron carbon block cartridge should then be installed downstream.

Fluoride Reduction

The AAL is specifically designed for fluoride reduction in drinking water.

Its activated alumina has been pre-conditioned for single-use cartridge applications.

The supplied technical information gives a capacity of:

5,500 ppm fluoride — from a 10 ppm spiked feed to 1.0 ppm breakthrough.

Laboratory evaluations have also demonstrated that the pre-conditioning process can increase capacity to as high as:

11,000 ppm F+ with effluent below 0.2 ppm from a 10 ppm F+ feed.

Actual treatment capacity is strongly influenced by incoming water chemistry and operating conditions.

Flow Rate Is Important

Activated alumina requires sufficient contact time with the water.

The AAL has a specified flow rate of:

0.25 gpm

For maximum filtration efficiency, a flow rate of:

Less than 1 litre per minute

is recommended.

This makes the cartridge best suited to low-flow drinking-water applications, such as benchtop or dedicated underbench filtration systems.

It is not intended for higher-flow whole-house filtration or a high-flow kitchen faucet application.

Water Chemistry & Fluoride Capacity

The effectiveness and capacity of activated alumina are affected by the chemistry of the incoming water.

The recommended pH range is 3–9.

High pH, high bicarbonate levels and excessive flow rates can all reduce treatment capacity.

The supplied technical data states:

• Above 100 ppm bicarbonate — reduce expected capacity by 50%
• Above 200 ppm bicarbonate — reduce expected capacity by 75%

For best results, the cartridge should therefore be operated within its recommended flow and pH conditions.

Arsenic Reduction

In addition to fluoride treatment, the AAL has demonstrated arsenic reduction.

Testing has shown arsenic reduction to:

Below 0.02 ppm from a 0.12 ppm feed.

The total treatment capacity for arsenic has not been determined, so this performance should not be interpreted as a defined arsenic service capacity.

Why Use a Carbon Block After Activated Alumina?

Activated alumina treatment can introduce an unwanted taste into the treated water.

For this reason, the AAL should be followed by a 0.5 micron carbon block cartridge, such as a compatible CBC10-type filter.

A typical two-stage configuration is:

Stage 1 — Activated Alumina Fluoride Reduction → Stage 2 — 0.5 Micron Carbon Block

The activated alumina performs the fluoride treatment, while the downstream carbon cartridge polishes the water and improves finished-water taste.

Best Suited For

The Aqualine 10" Standard Activated Alumina Fluoride Reduction Cartridge is well suited to:

• Fluoride reduction
• Drinking-water filtration
• Dedicated drinking-water systems
• Benchtop water filters
• Low-flow underbench water filters
• Two-stage fluoride filtration systems
• Systems incorporating a downstream carbon block
• Applications requiring activated alumina treatment
• Low-flow arsenic reduction applications where the demonstrated performance is appropriate

The cartridge is specifically intended for low-flow treatment. Keeping flow below 1 L/min helps maximise filtration efficiency.

Key Specifications

*5,500 ppm fluoride capacity is based on testing from a 10 ppm spiked feed to 1.0 ppm breakthrough.

Activated Alumina vs Carbon Filtration

Activated alumina and activated carbon perform different treatment functions.

The activated alumina in the AAL is specifically used for fluoride reduction.

A carbon cartridge is useful as a downstream polishing stage for improving taste and other carbon-treatable water-quality issues, but it should not be treated as a replacement for the activated alumina fluoride-treatment stage.

For this application, the recommended arrangement is:

Activated Alumina → 0.5 Micron Carbon Block

This provides dedicated fluoride treatment followed by carbon polishing.

Installation

The Aqualine AAL measures 9¾" and is designed to fit compatible standard 10" water filter housings.

For best results, install the AAL ahead of a compatible 0.5 micron carbon block cartridge.

To replace the cartridge:

1. Turn off the incoming water supply.
2. Release pressure from the filter housing.
3. Remove the filter housing sump.
4. Remove the existing cartridge.
5. Clean the housing if required.
6. Check that the housing O-ring is clean and correctly seated.
7. Install the new AAL cartridge.
8. Reassemble the housing.
9. Slowly restore water pressure.
10. Check carefully for leaks.
11. Flush the filtration system before drinking the water.

The system should be configured to maintain the required low treatment flow.

Maintenance

The Aqualine AAL is a non-regenerable cartridge and should be replaced rather than regenerated.

Replace the cartridge at least every 6 months, or more frequently where higher volumes of water are treated.

Actual service life depends heavily on:

• Incoming fluoride concentration
• Daily water consumption
• Flow rate
• Water pH
• Bicarbonate concentration
• Overall incoming water chemistry

High flow rates can adversely affect capacity, so maintaining the recommended low flow is important.

What's Included

1 × Aqualine AAL 10" Standard Activated Alumina Fluoride Reduction Water Filter Cartridge

Media: 550g pre-conditioned fine mesh activated alumina
Size: 9¾" / Standard 10" format

A downstream carbon block cartridge is not included unless separately specified.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Aqualine AAL remove?

The AAL is primarily designed for fluoride reduction.

It has also demonstrated arsenic reduction to below 0.02 ppm from a 0.12 ppm feed, although a total arsenic treatment capacity has not been established.

What is activated alumina?

Activated alumina is a highly porous and adsorbent form of aluminium oxide.

The activation process increases its surface area and porosity, allowing the media to adsorb fluoride from water.

How much activated alumina is inside the cartridge?

The AAL contains 550 grams of pre-conditioned fine mesh activated alumina.

How much fluoride can it treat?

The specified capacity is 5,500 ppm fluoride, based on a 10 ppm spiked feed to a 1.0 ppm breakthrough point.

Laboratory evaluations have demonstrated capacity as high as 11,000 ppm F+ with effluent below 0.2 ppm from a 10 ppm F+ feed under the evaluated conditions.

Actual capacity depends heavily on incoming water chemistry and flow rate.

What flow rate should I use?

For maximum filtration efficiency, keep flow below 1 litre per minute.

The specified cartridge flow rate is 0.25 gpm.

Why does flow rate matter?

Activated alumina needs sufficient contact time with the water to adsorb fluoride effectively.

Higher flow rates reduce contact time and can adversely affect cartridge capacity.

Can I use it for my whole house?

This cartridge is intended for low-flow drinking-water treatment, not high-flow whole-house filtration.

It is better suited to benchtop or dedicated underbench drinking-water systems.

Can I connect it directly to a high-flow kitchen faucet?

The AAL should be used in a low-flow application.

For maximum efficiency, flow should remain below 1 L/min, so it is not intended for a higher-flow kitchen faucet arrangement.

Why should I install a carbon filter after it?

Activated alumina treatment can add taste to the water.

A downstream 0.5 micron carbon block provides a polishing stage that removes this taste and improves the finished drinking water.

What order should the cartridges be installed?

For a two-stage fluoride treatment system:

Stage 1 — Aqualine AAL Activated Alumina

Stage 2 — 0.5 Micron Carbon Block

Does it contain a sediment filter?

The cartridge incorporates a 100 micron reticulated poly foam pre-filter and a 20 micron spun-bonded polypropylene post-filter.

Does bicarbonate affect fluoride capacity?

Yes.

The supplied technical information states that expected capacity should be reduced by:

• 50% when bicarbonate exceeds 100 ppm
• 75% when bicarbonate exceeds 200 ppm

What pH range is recommended?

The recommended pH range is 3–9.

High pH can adversely affect activated alumina capacity.

Can it reduce arsenic?

Testing has demonstrated arsenic reduction to below 0.02 ppm from a 0.12 ppm feed.

However, the total arsenic capacity of the cartridge has not been determined.

How often should I replace the cartridge?

Replace it at least every 6 months, or more frequently with higher water volumes or where incoming water conditions reduce treatment capacity.

Can the activated alumina be regenerated?

No. The AAL is a non-regenerable cartridge and should be replaced at the end of its useful treatment life.

Will it fit my standard 10" filter housing?

Yes. The AAL is 9¾" long and designed to fit compatible standard 10" water filter housings.