Cotton balls help filter water by acting as a coarse filter, trapping larger particles of dirt and sediment as the water passes through them.
Here's a more detailed breakdown:
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Mechanical Filtration: The primary role of cotton balls in water filtration is mechanical filtration. They physically block larger impurities from passing through.
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Trapping Larger Particles: As dirty water flows through the tightly packed fibers of the cotton balls, particles like sand, rust, and larger organic matter get caught. This is due to the small spaces between the cotton fibers.
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First Stage Filtration: Cotton balls are most effective as a first stage of filtration. They remove the larger debris, preparing the water for subsequent filtration stages that target smaller contaminants. These later stages often involve materials like activated charcoal, which adsorbs chemical pollutants.
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Complementary Filtration: While cotton balls are useful, they don't remove all contaminants. Finer particles, bacteria, viruses, and dissolved chemicals will still pass through. That's why cotton ball filtration is often combined with other filtration methods.
In summary, cotton balls act as a simple and effective pre-filter in water purification, primarily targeting larger, visible particles to improve water clarity. They are commonly used in DIY water filters as a readily available and inexpensive filtration medium.
