Purification

In water treatment technologies, the term purifying refers to a series of processes aimed at removing contaminants, impurities and unwanted substances from water, so that it is safe for human consumption or for use in industrial and environmental contexts.

Water purification may involve a combination of physical, chemical and biological techniques, depending on the type of contaminants present and the end use of the treated water.

Water purification processes may  include:

• Filtration: consists in the removal of suspended particles and sediments through mechanical filters or sand.
• Reverse osmosis: involves the use of a semi-permeable membrane to remove salts and other dissolved impurities.
• Ion exchange: involves the removal of unwanted ions by replacing them with less problematic ions using ion exchange resins.
• Adsorption: occurs through the use of materials such as activated carbon, zeolites or resins to absorb organic and inorganic contaminants.
• Disinfection: is the elimination of pathogenic micro-organisms by chlorination, ozonisation or UV rays.
• Coagulation and flocculation: consists of adding chemicals to aggregate fine particles into larger flakes that can be easily removed.

These processes can be combined in various ways  to address specific water quality problems, ensuring that the treated water meets the required safety and quality standards .

Water purification applications

• Drinking water production: removal of contaminants to produce safe water for human consumption.
• Food and beverage industry: for the production of pure water for the formulation of foods and beverages.
• Laboratories and pharmaceutical production: aimed at the production of ultra-pure water for pharmaceutical experiments and formulations.
• Industrial processes: water treatment to prevent scale, corrosion and other problems in cooling and production systems.
• Waste water recovery and reuse: involves treating the waste water to make it reusable, reducing fresh water consumption and environmental impact.