Last month, Our Business Development Manager joined forces with ELGA’s very own Research & Development Manager to present “The Lab Pure Water Talk on Key Aspects of Water Chemistry & Technology Critical for Purified Water Production and Use”, held in Cape Town, South Africa.
It was a useful day and a resounding success, so, in case you missed it, we have summarized below one of the key lessons of the day: the top four questions you will need to consider before purchasing a new water purification system for your lab.
1. Do you know what’s in your feed water?
Have an appreciation for the source & seasonal variation of your feed water.
Impurities come from a variety sources, for instance, dissolved organic and inorganic compounds are commonly derived from pesticides, fertilizers and detergents in the ground water. Underground supplies, on the other hand, have a high level of hardness but contain low levels of organics. If you really want to get technical, request your free water guide here and find out what’s really lurking in your lab water!
2. Do you know what quality water your application requires?
Classify your purified water needs as per the International Standard for Laboratory Water.
Purified water is categorized under (Type I) UltraPure, (Type II) Pure or (Type III) General Grade, with Type I having a resistivity of 18.2MΩ.cm and is required for some of the most water critical applications such as HPLC (High-Performance Liquid Chromatography). Whereas, General Grade is recommended for non-critical work such as glass ware rinsing and water baths. Knowing which water you need will help you to decide the best solution to meet your needs. See our handy Harmonious Water infographic to help you match your application with the correct water type.
3. What will impact your research?
Consider your impurities.
Water purity is under continual threat from five types of impurities and each impurity requires a specific technology to remove it. For example, ion exchange is needed for removing dissolved gasses. Suspended particles and colloids require ultra or micro-porous filtration and reverse osmosis is essential for the removal of dissolved organic and inorganic compounds. Electrodeionization, however, removes most impurities and definitely one for the environmentally conscious out there! Read our “How to Select the Right Water Purity for your Lab Applications” for a complete reference table to match your application with the required water quality.
4. How much water do you use in your lab?
Know your usage!
Make sure to calculate just how much water your lab is really using per hour, per day, per week – sometimes it’s needed in the most unexpected places, for instance, just for fun, who knew that 2,400 litres of water have gone into making a Big Mac? Yep – really! You’ll be surprised.
Want to speak to one of our LabWater specialists about your lab requirements? Get in touch with us today.
