About AST Bead Filter Solutions
Bead Filter & Water Reclamation Experts
AST was founded in October 1995 to manufacture and market “Bead Filter Technologies” which were first developed at Louisiana State University’s Civil and Environmental Aquatics Systems Laboratory in the early 1990s by Dr. Ron Malone.
Today, AST’s product line features a variety of different filtration products utilizing Bead Filter Technology. These products can handle a wide range of filtration needs and span a variety of industries.
AST’s main office has been located in New Orleans for 20 years and recently opened an office in Louisville, Colorado.
Bead Filter Basics
Bead filters are generally classified as “expandable granular biofilters” or EGB’s and are distinguished from other filters by the use of plastic floating granular filter media. Water from the aquatic system passes through the packed bed of plastic beads. The beads capture the solids, while simultaneously providing a large surface area (400 ft2 /ft3 ) for the attachment of both heterotrophic and nitrifying bacteria which remove dissolved organic and nitrogenous wastes. Bead filters are often referred to as bioclarifiers for their ability to perform both biofiltration and clarification in a single unit.
Better Than Traditional Clarifiers or Sedimentation Basins
Bead Filters were originally invented to overcome some of the major problems with using traditional filters.
Bead Filter Benefits:
- Immune to biofouling
- Never require replacement of the bead media
- Minimize water loss/usage
- Reduce energy costs by lowering pump head requirements
- Higher flux rate in a smaller footprint
In fact, bead filters comply with three of the major sustainability issues summarized in the LEED Green Building Rating System. Bead filters operated with water pumps typically operate at low pressure (horsepower requirements, as well as energy consumption). Bead filters specifically designed to use airlift pumps for circulation operate with less than 1 psi head loss. Additionally, backwash water loss rates for Propeller Bead® Filters are as low as 10% and PolyGeyser® Bead Filters are as low as 1% of those experienced by typical sand filters.
Bead filters are also easily automated, never require replacement of the filter media and are immune to caking and channeling when backwashed regularly.
See Our Recent Case Study
Pilot RCPG System for Facultative Lagoon Polishing
In order to meet increasingly strict discharge standards, AST provided a trailer mounted pilot scale test unit to pull a side stream off of the current waste stream.
Let's Discuss Your Project
From a simple filter to a complete custom system, our engineers can help you find the perfect filtration system for your needs. Get in touch today!