| Many instruments and measurement devices in | | | | are electrically charged to remove particles from |
| the scientific laboratory, whether it is a research | | | | the flowing water. This method is the most |
| laboratory or a bioscience/medical laboratory, | | | | commonly used, as fresh pure water is always |
| need purified water as a washing agent, reagent | | | | available to the laboratory from the community |
| mixer, or rinsing agent. The necessity for pure | | | | source, without the need to purchase water by |
| water in these processes can be seen as | | | | the drum. |
| common sense; contaminated water, or | | | | Reverse-osmosis water purification is another |
| mineralized water can be hazardous to the testing | | | | method for supplying the scientific laboratory with |
| procedures. | | | | pure water. This method is similar in osmotic |
| Pure laboratory water can be obtained by many | | | | filtration, yet it uses high pressures forced upon |
| methods. There are filtration systems that can | | | | the semi-permeable membrane to filter out |
| result in 99% pure water for the laboratory. | | | | undesirable particulates. This method, along with a |
| Distillation systems are also available to provide a | | | | pre-filtration of a sediment filter, which can be a |
| non-mineralized water to be used in sensitive | | | | cotton-wound filter, can reduce the amount of |
| instruments. As can be imagined, mineral content | | | | contaminants in the water to be used by the |
| in the rinse water for an automated chemistry | | | | laboratory. |
| analyzer would cause buildup of mineral deposits | | | | Carbon filtration is another simple method for |
| within the tubing and aspiration systems, which | | | | providing laboratory pure water. This filtration |
| can lead to erroneous results, damage to the | | | | method uses a block of dense carbon to trap |
| expensive probes, and quite possibly voiding the | | | | particulates measuring down to the micron sizes. |
| warranty | | | | It also can remove chemical molecules and |
| Distilled water for the laboratory is a frequently | | | | bacteria. A good system forces water to be |
| used rinse media, as the water is made from | | | | filtered through a very dense carbon block, |
| evaporative steam, which is condensed in a | | | | resulting in very clean and clear water. |
| chamber to remove any possible contaminants | | | | The best method to assure complete pure |
| such as minerals. This type of purified water is | | | | laboratory water is to combine two or more of |
| not guaranteed to be without bacteria, nor does it | | | | the above processes in a continuous filtration |
| assure against other contaminants that may have | | | | process. Using distilled water first, sent through a |
| condensed out of the original water batch. This is | | | | carbon block filter, then a deionization process, the |
| the cheapest form of purified water, so may be | | | | water would be most assuredly pure enough for |
| used for common cleaning procedures in the | | | | the exacting standards of any laboratory. If sterile |
| laboratory. | | | | water is also needed, an ultraviolet light sterilization |
| Deionized water is by far the most used pure | | | | unit can be used in conjunction with the other |
| laboratory water. It uses a chemical process to | | | | filtration processes to eliminate any stray bacteria |
| eliminate mineral salts from the water to be used. | | | | from the water system. |
| The resins involved in the filtration process are | | | | Laboratory pure water is needed in a variety of |
| specially made filters, which use an ion-exchange | | | | sensitive testing and experimental processes. |
| method to remove these harmful minerals. | | | | These easy to set up methods can be the cost |
| Continuous deionization can be achieved with | | | | effective way to eliminate contaminants from |
| electrodeionization, which uses similar resins, but | | | | your laboratory water. |