Because vendors have carefully designed lab water purification systems to be low-maintenance, care of these instruments is quite simple. Mostly, all you have to do is change cartridges, filters, and ultraviolet lamps on schedule. Periodically, you’ll also want to do a system purge and rinse. Many of today’s systems feature a cleaning option in the menu to make that process easy.
To continue reading this article, sign up for FREE to
Membership is FREE and provides you with instant access to eNewsletters, digital publications, article archives, and more.
Because vendors have carefully designed lab water purification systems to be low-maintenance, care of these instruments is quite simple. Mostly, all you have to do is change cartridges, filters, and ultraviolet lamps on schedule. Periodically, you’ll also want to do a system purge and rinse. Many of today’s systems feature a cleaning option in the menu to make that process easy.
Will the process type and sensitivity of downstream instrumentation affect which water purification system should be used?
The type of instrument being used to analyze samples will directly affect the purity of water required. ASTM water comes in three different purities. Type III is the least pure, and is suitable for processes such as filling water baths or for use in autoclaves. Type II is the next step up, recommended for general lab processes, such as preparing media and certain reagents. Type I is the most pure, and is required for sensitive analytical processes, such as HPLC, GC, or MS.
How does the volume of water required for lab processes affect which type of system is best?
Different labs have different water requirements. Ensuring the system can keep up with lab demands is very important. Without enough water, there is the potential for downtime. Too much water can be wasteful, and will also increase overhead costs. In order to help with this, many companies offer reservoir systems which can provide a backup in case the system is down for maintenance, or if the amount of water needed changes.
How will working with biological processes or samples affect the type of water purification system required?
For clinical and biological processes, a specialized type of water known as CLRW water must be used. In order to accommodate this, specialized systems producing water that complies with the CLSI guidelines for reagent water must be utilized. Many vendors offer compliant water purification systems which can help ensure the correct type of water is used for the laboratory’s process.
