When we drink water at home, most of us are aware that it may not be the world’s purest water. This doesn’t necessarily mean it’s dirty, but tap water has rarely been through high-quality filters. We’re okay with that, and we accept a certain level of “stowaways” in our water. When it comes to laboratory science, however, we don’t have that luxury. Pure water is a necessity, not a preference. Even in trace amounts, contaminants can compromise entire experiments, leading to inaccurate data. That’s why water purification systems are vital to a lab’s operations.
But what exactly do these systems do? How do they work, and why are they so important? Let’s take a closer look.
Understanding Lab Water Purification Systems
There are several different types of water purification systems, each one designed to eliminate specific contaminants and meet the proper purity requirements for research.
- Reverse Osmosis (RO): With this system, water is forced through a semipermeable membrane, which filters out impurities like ions, particles, and large molecules. RO is ideal for providing water that meets most general laboratory standards.
- Deionization (DI): Often used in combination with other purification processes, this uses ion-exchange resin to remove dissolved ions from the water. This produces very pure water that is required for sensitive applications.
- Ultrapure Water Systems: These systems are designed to remove ultra small contaminants from the water. These contaminants include organic compounds, bacteria, and endotoxins. Water of this purity level is vital for processes like molecular biology or mass spectrometry.
How These Systems Work
That’s what they do, but how do they actually work? RO systems rely on pressure to push water through the membranes, which trap the impurities. DI systems, however, use resins to replace ions with hydrogen and hydroxide. The combination of these two forms pure water. As for ultrapure systems, they can incorporate either of these techniques, but also implement additional filters—such as IV sterilization—to maximize water purity.
Key Benefits of Using Water Purification Systems in Labs
Water purification systems can provide several benefits to your experiments, safety, and expenses.
Precision in Experiments
Water purity has a direct correlation with the accuracy and reproducibility of experimental results. Since contaminants can interfere with reactions, skew measurements, and introduce unwelcome variables, maximum purity is essential. Otherwise, the integrity of your data and its consistency could be compromised.
Safety and Compliance
Laboratories are subject to some of the strictest regulatory standards in the world. These standards often dictate the acceptable levels of contaminants in experiments. These regulations are in place to protect the well-being of lab personnel and the general public, as hazardous materials are often used in lab environments. Contaminated water can pose serious risks when interacting with these materials.
Cost Efficiency
A high-quality lab water purification system may carry a hefty up-front price tag, but the overall savings that result from it are worth the investment. Contaminated water can damage sensitive equipment, which could result in costly repairs over time. In addition to that, high chances of invalid experiments have the potential to waste resources and time. Pure water will help you avoid these issues and maximize efficiency.
Choosing the Right Water Purification System
There are several factors that will determine your choice in purification systems.
- Quality of Water Required: This is likely the most important factor for most people. Ultrapure water is essential for sensitive applications, while RO or DI will work for more general applications.
- Volume Needs: How much purified water does your lab use on a daily basis? Be sure to factor this in and choose a purification system that can handle the proper output.
- Specific Lab Applications: It’s important to tailor the system to your lab’s needs. For example, certain labs require more filtration stages or customized features depending on the goals of the research.
Customization Options
If you want to further customize your lab water purification system—research needs are diverse, after all—there are plenty of options to do so. Modular designs, advanced monitoring systems, and integration with existing infrastructure are within the realm of possibility. This level of customization ensures your system will meet purity requirements and align with your workflows.
Conclusion
The pursuit of scientific excellence is what drives much innovation. The proper equipment—including water purification systems—is vital to its success. From maximizing safety to improving the accuracy of results, purified water plays a foundational role in good scientific practice. For further assistance or advice on these vital systems, get in touch with us at BaneBio. We’ll be happy to help!