Alum (aluminum sulfate or potassium aluminum sulfate) has been used in the water treatment industry for decades and is commonly employed by water resource and pond managers to remove phosphorus – the primary source of nutrient for algae growth – from targeted water. Phosphorous resides primarily at the sediment/water interface, but also becomes suspended in solution in the water, where it becomes available as a food source for algal colonization.

Therefore, a fundamental advantage of BARACLEAR – with its dense aggregate core – is its ability to reliably deliver the active treatment directly to the bottom of the waterway, where it can more efficiently and effectively bind phosphorous. This binding process makes the nutritional building block unavailable for uptake by algae, thus reducing colonization and therefore increasing the clarity of the water.

Samples taken from the sediment/water interface – where available phosphorus levels are highest.

Alum additions are traditionally made in powder or liquid form. The alum within the water column causes phosphates to form a "fluffy" precipitate (or floc), aluminum phosphate, which has a lower solubility than the aluminum sulfate and will sink to the lake bottom. The aluminum ions bond with phosphate molecules available in the water and the resulting aluminum phosphate is insoluble in water. This precipitate settles to the bottom and the phosphate is no longer available as a nutrient.

However, since the majority of the remaining free phosphorous resides on the bottom (sediment), traditional treatments primarily address phosphorous in the water column, but do little or nothing to address the primary source of phosphorus. The remaining untreated phosphorous on the bottom will continue to cycle into the water column over time – serving as nutrition for recurring algae blooms.

In addition, particularly at depths shallower than 10 feet, alum in liquid or powder form can often leave water milky, foamy, and/or unnaturally discolored (due to dyes) – especially if the alum treatment is done on a windy day with strong wave action. BARACLEAR provides algae control and nutrient management without degrading water quality or aesthetic appeal.

BARACLEAR offers a number of application- and performance-related benefits over both alum and non-alum based alternatives:

• BARACLEAR is non-toxic, with all its ingredients approved for use in water systems – no specialized safety equipment (beyond gloves to protect against possible mild skin irritation) is necessary during material handling – refer to MSDS for details
• Due to its coated and durable particle structure, BARACLEAR is easily transported and handled – its dry, stable state also dramatically reduces dusting during handling and application
• The product is designed to be surface applied and can be readily broadcast without mixing tanks, injection, or any specialized equipment
• BARACLEAR mitigates suspended organic and inorganic materials that are the primary contributors which produce turbid or "murky" waters
• Product application does not leave significant suspended sediment in the water column
• The product can be used by informed water managers to directly target internal load phosphorus and suspended organic and inorganic colloidal material in water bodies up to 50 feet in depth
• BARACLEAR can be used in relatively high-energy flow regimes (e.g. canals, ditches, or streams)

BARACLEAR retains 99% of its particle integrity for several minutes in the water column (allowing it to travel all the way to the sediment floor), and due to the cohesive properties of the clay additives, the active ingredients will remain available at the sediment/water interface to combat phosphorus cycling. Each particle contains the highest quality sodium bentonite products available on the market (originating from mines in Wyoming). An ancillary benefit of the BARACLEAR technology is its residual contribution to the sealing of earthen basins (see product details for PONDSEALTM for more information).

*BARACLEAR is a registered trademark and is the property of Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
The product is licensed exclusively to AquaBlok, Ltd. and is covered by U.S. Patent Nos. 7,001,534; 7,063,804; 6,881,346; and 6,960,303.