Methods of Water Purification & Laboratory Grade System Types
Labs throughout the world primarily use water as a reagent for most of their activities. This is true for India too. Given its importance, it is crucial to have a laboratory water purification system in India to ensure the quality of your lab results is good.
There are several methods of water purification that can be used for purifying water for lab use, including reverse osmosis, distillation, and deionization. Let us understand each one of them.
Reverse Osmosis (RO)
Reverse osmosis is a process where water is forced through a semipermeable membrane, resulting in the removal of ions and other contaminants from the water. This is a popular method of water purification for lab use because it is effective in removing a wide range of impurities.
Ion Exchange (IX)
Ion exchange is a process where ions are exchanged between a water solution and an ion-exchange resin. This process is often used in conjunction with reverse osmosis to further purify water for lab use.
Electrodeionization (EDI)
Electrodeionization is a process that uses electric fields to remove ions from water. This method is often used in lab settings because it is effective in removing many different impurities.
Microporous Depth Filter
Microporous depth filters are used to remove particles from water by trapping them in the pores of the filter. Filters are commonly 5–10 microns thick, and when combined with an activated carbon treatment, they protect subsequent reverse osmosis systems from fouling and clogging.
Ultraviolet (UV) Light
UV light is used to disinfect water by destroying bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms. It does this by photo oxidizing organic impurities from the water. This will then be paired with a filtering process to remove the inactive microorganisms.
Degassing
A degassing system is used to remove dissolved gasses from water. This is often done by using a vacuum pump to remove the dissolved gasses from the water.
Ultrafiltration
Ultrafiltration (1–200 nm) is a process where water is forced through a membrane, resulting in the removal of contaminants from the water. By having pores smaller than the contaminants, everything gets caught before the filter within the expected size range of the filter.
Why Get a Water Purification System
A water purification system for laboratory use is crucial for your lab to ensure a constant supply of pure water and to get reliable results. To conclude you should choose the right purification system based on your own lab needs. Consulting an expert in the field will go a long way in helping you decide.