Jeff Shumate, Amway Durables Product Development Manager, Introduces the Advanced Technology of New eSpring™ Water Purifier

A：Amway Express

J：Jeff Shumate

e3 Carbon Filter

A: For the e3 Carbon Filter, what are the main benefits?

J: The e3 Carbon Filter has upgraded technology and additional performance claims compared with the previous eSpring™ model.  It now reduces over 170 contaminants which includes over 145 that affect human health.  Pharmaceuticals in the water source is a growing concern and the new eSpring™ has added 10 new pharmaceutical claims in response to these emerging contaminants.  Additionally, the e3 Carbon Filter physically reduces cysts that may flow through the filter.  While reducing all of the harmful contaminants that may be in the water, the e3 Carbon Filter allows beneficial minerals to stay in your water to benefit taste and health.

A: Why did you adopt the coconut-shell-based activated carbon?

J: We use coconut shells for a couple reasons.  Coconut carbon is food-grade and also used within the medical industry.  From a sustainability standpoint, they are environmentally friendly.  Coconut shells are burned to create a char, activated using high heat.  During the activation process, pores are formed in the carbon surface which are where contaminants get captured.  This activated carbon can be crushed, ground, and pressed into a block that will meet our size, shape, and performance requirements.

A: While the Carbon Filter leaves beneficial minerals like calcium and magnesium in the water, what harmful minerals and chemicals are being filtered? For example, lead in drinking water is of particular interest in Hong Kong.

J: There are over 170 contaminants that get filtered by the new eSpring™, many of which get taken out by the e3 Carbon Filter.  Lead is a common heavy metal that is reduced by eSpring™.  In fact, the carbon block is specifically designed to capture lead in addition to other contaminants.  Some of the other notable contaminants treated by eSpring™ are PFOA and PFOS, pharmaceuticals, pesticides, and microplastics.

UV-C LED

A: Amway is the first company to have a water treatment system with UV-C LED technology certified by NSF to NSF/ANSI Standard 55 for Class B for microbial reduction. How can you achieve and obtain this accreditation?

J: Amway began working with UV-C LED technology many years before it was ready to be used in a product.  We developed many different prototypes and performed many engineering tests using early versions of a UV-C LED.  We were ready to put them into a product as soon as they were commercially available.  However, the NSF/ANSI Standard 55 test method needed to be updated to accommodate systems that used UV-C LEDs.  Amway helped to guide the changes in the test standard and had a system ready to go so that we could submit for certification right away.

A: The lifespan of the UV-C LED has been extended to 10 years, which is significantly longer than the preview model of 1 year as well as your original expectation of 5 years. How was this made possible?

J: The amount of electrical power used to run the LED and the temperature they operate at will affect the lifespan of the UV-C LED components.  We optimized the system to use the right amount of power and control the temperature so that it would last up to 10 years.  Once that was done, we performed numerous tests to validate that the design worked for the entire 10 year lifespan.