✅ What is Katalox Light
Katalox Light is a catalytic granular filter media based on a zeolite (or similar base) coated with a high percentage (~ 10%) of manganese dioxide (MnO₂) on its surface.
The coating gives it a high surface area and catalytic properties, enabling it to remove more than just suspended solids: it can also oxidize and precipitate dissolved metals and compounds (iron, manganese, hydrogen sulfide), which are then filtered out.
🧪 What Katalox Light Removes / What It Does
Katalox Light is used for:
Removal of iron (Fe²⁺) and manganese (Mn²⁺) from water — even at relatively high concentrations compared with simpler media.
Removal of hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) — effectively reducing rotten-egg smell and sulfur content in well water.
Filtration of suspended solids, turbidity, sediments, and even reducing heavy metals, radionuclides, some arsenic, and other contaminants through catalytic oxidation and co-precipitation (depending on water composition and presence of iron as a helper).
Fine filtration down to a few microns (often ~3 µm), thus improving water clarity and reducing particulate load.
✅ Advantages Compared to Other Media (e.g. sand, simpler catalytic media, Birm, etc.)
Because of the high MnO₂ coating and catalytic action, Katalox Light often outperforms standard media such as sand, Birm, “Greensand Plus”, or uncoated zeolite — especially in water with high iron/manganese or with hydrogen sulfide.
It tends to require less maintenance in some installations: no (or limited) chemical regeneration — often chemical free if designed properly.
Because the media is relatively light (bulk density around water), backwash water consumption is lower than heavier media, which is an advantage for household or small-scale systems.
⚠️ What to Check & Consider (Limitations / Best Conditions)
As with any catalytic media, water pH, oxygen level, and flow rate impact performance. For instance, oxidation/co-precipitation needs certain conditions to work properly.
In some cases (especially for heavy manganese or hydrogen sulfide), an oxidizer (e.g. air, oxygen, sometimes chemical oxidizers) may be recommended to boost performance, especially for heavy-duty loads.
It’s important not to mix Katalox Light with other media of different density or chemical behaviour — mixing media might lead to poor layering, channeling, or degraded performance.
When loaded in the filter tank, you need to leave proper freeboard (air space above media bed) to allow expansion and backwash — manufacturer guidelines generally recommend ~ 30–40 % freeboard.
📦 Typical Packaging & Lifespan
Katalox Light is typically sold in bags of ~30 kg (~1 cubic foot / 28–30 L).
With proper operation and maintenance, the media can last 7–10 years or more before replacement is needed.
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