To activate and prepare the catalytic surfaces of the KT-20 filtration media, sodium hypochlorite is used in a conditioning process. The steps for this procedure are outlined below.

The curing process involves soaking the KT-20 media for a minimum of three hours before use. A longer soaking and conditioning period enhances the durability and effectiveness of the catalytic surfaces. Begin by filling the filtration unit with clean water until approximately 50% of the freeboard is submerged. A 12.5% sodium hypochlorite solution is then introduced at a ratio of 10 liters of solution per cubic meter of KT-20.

Next, pour the KT-20 media into the filter unit, ensuring that sufficient support media, such as filter quartz, is in place so that the KT-20 bed remains above the lowest backwash laterals. Lightly agitate the mixture, then open the wash valve to drain the water until it reaches the level of the filtration medium surface, and then close the valve. Allow the KT-20 to soak for at least three hours—longer soaking times further strengthen the catalytic surfaces.

Once the soaking period is complete, open the wash valve and drain all the water from the system. The sodium hypochlorite concentration in the soak water may be several hundred ppm, so proper discharge considerations are necessary. The next step is to perform a continuous backwash while injecting sodium hypochlorite to maintain a chlorine residual of 0.1 – 0.3 mg/L (ppm) in the backwash water. This process continues until the manganese level in the backwash water is reduced to below 0.2 mg/L.

During backwashing, excess manganese dioxide residues from the infusion manufacturing process, which have not bonded to the KT-20 catalytic layers, are removed and flushed as waste. The duration of this step varies based on system size and backwash velocity, typically taking between 20 to 40 minutes but possibly extending to several hours for larger filtration units.