Deionized Water: The Benefits And Risks

There are many types of water – purified water is one, but there’s also filtered water, alkaline, and tap water. Although many types of water are perfectly safe to drink they’re not suitable for uses that require water as a solvent, ingredient or rinse (such as in the cosmetics, food and medical industries).

Water that is sourced from your tap or another source contains ions such as calcium, sodium, iron, and copper. These ions are naturally present in soil. These mineral ions are good for our health, but they can cause problems with “sensitive” industrial and household processes.

In some cases, ions can cause problems in laboratory experiments, sterilization of equipment, glassware cleaning, and more. In these cases, it is important to remove the ions before using water. There’s an easy fix for this: deionized drinking water.

What is deionized and how is it produced? What are the risks and benefits of this type of water use? Is this water safe to drink or not? This article reveals the truth.

What is Deionized Water?

Deionized water (also known as “DI” water or demineralized) that has had all or most of the ions removed. This is usually done by an ion exchange process.

As we move on to the next section, please keep in mind that particles with an electrical charge can be positive or negative. Let’s continue.

How is DI water made?

The water source is run through a series of electrically charged resins. Before the water passes through the DI system it is usually filtered with reverse osmosis to remove any organic matter or contaminants. This pre-filtration makes the water clean enough to deionize before it is passed through the DI system.

The pre-filtered water is passed through two types ion exchange resins when it enters the DI System: A cation resin that contains positively charged ions, and an anion ion resin with negative charged ions. Some DI systems, however, use a mixed ion exchange resin bed that contains both anions (positively charged ions) and cations (negatively charged ions).

Resins, which are small plastic beads made of polymer chains with charged functional groups embedded in them, are composed of organic polymer chain. Each functional group is either positive or negative. The cation resin has a negative functional groups that attract positively charged ions. The anion resin, on the other hand has a functional group which is positive and attracts negatively-charged ions.

Hydrochloric acid (HCI), used to regenerate cation resin, is used for the production of DI water. The negatively charged cation beads are then attached to the positively charged hydrogen. The anion is regenerated using sodium hydroxide.

The bonds between different ions don’t all have the same strength. Some are stronger and others are weaker. Calcium has a stronger connection between the resin cation bead and calcium than sodium. The H+ of the cation bead on the resin and the OH on the resin on the anion bead are not attracted to each other, which allows for ion exchange.

As positively charged ions pass across the resin beads of cation, they exchange the cations for hydrogen (H+). As negatively charged anions pass across anion resin beads the anions exchange for Hydroxyl. The H+ and OH+ combine to form “pure H2O”. The resin beads need to be regenerated once all exchange sites have been used on the cation resin beads and anion resins beads, and when the tank is no longer producing DI water.

Note: While DI water is generally safe and clean, it’s not always pure. Deionization doesn’t remove organic pollutants or impurities without a charge. Its purity is also dependent on the type of contaminants present in the source water, as well as the pre-filtering technique.

Different Types of Deionized Water

Three types of deionization are available: co-current, counter-current, and mixed bed deionization.

Here’s an overview of each type:

• Co-current deionization involve the standard process of downflow is used for co-current deionization. This process involves both the input water as well as the regeneration chemicals entering the top ion exchange column and flowing simultaneously. They exit the bottom.
• Counter-current deionization Water is pumped from the top, and the regeneration chemicals are pumped from the bottom. Counter-current regeneration takes less time than co-current, which results in lower costs and fewer regenerates.
• In mixed-bed deionization, cation resin and anion are combined in an ion exchange column. This process usually requires a complex regenerating process, which produces the highest quality purified water but at a high cost.

Di water has many uses.

DI water is preferred by many industries due to its purity. If the water source was spring, tap or distilled, DI water can be used in nearly all experiments.

Here are some examples of DI water applications:

1. Hand Washing and Sterilization

DI water, because of its purity, is used in hospitals and medical institutions. DI water is used in these facilities to wash hands and sterilize medical equipment. Deionized water is devoid of minerals, so it does not leave deposits or spots on equipment when sterilizing. This prevents cross-contamination and infection.

2. Laboratory tests

It is vital to obtain the most accurate lab results when conducting experiments. For this reason, biologists and laboratory experts often use DI water to perform various procedures and experiments. Regular water’s mineral content and contaminants could cause test results to be distorted, resulting in unusual reactions, financial losses and even physical damage. In order to clean and prepare solutions, DI water can be used.

3. Cooling systems

Low conductivity is a characteristic of demineralized water. It is therefore suitable for cooling and oiling equipment such as high-powered Lasers. It prevents overheating of such devices. This is why it is also used to maintain the right temperature in other medical equipment.

4. Industrial machinery

Industrial machinery is heavily used, as anyone who has worked in manufacturing knows. It is important to clean it regularly in order to prevent dirt and grime from building up. The mineral content of ordinary water can cause industrial equipment to corrode faster. DI water can be used to clean, lubricate, and cool heavy machinery. This increases its life span.

5. Automotive care

DI water can be used to extend the life of lead-acid batteries and the coolant system in cars. Normal water can cause engines to rust and reduce the life of lead-acid car batteries. DI water is preferred to tap water when used in cooling systems for automobiles.

6. Aquariums

It is important to provide a healthy environment for marine animals. If you have an aquarium, it is important to use water that does not contain copper, chlorine or any other pollutants which could harm your fish. DI water contains less impurities than normal water, so it is the best choice. The lack of silicate and phosphate helps to keep aquarium plants healthy and free of algae. The DI water can also improve the overall health of your fish because it is high quality.

7. Food Manufacturing and Processing

The quality of water is essential to the preparation and processing of food. You probably already know that the water used in food preparation can have a significant impact on its appearance, taste, nutrition and safety. Food manufacturing and processing facilities use deionized drinking water to wash produce, make food products and process food. Even tomato sauce, which is a simple food product, can be made using DI water.

8. Cosmetics and pharmaceuticals

DI water is used in nearly all cosmetic products, including makeup, lotions, creams and gels. Water is used to effectively transfer elements from your skin or hair to the water. Water can be a problem in many beauty and health products. One of the problems is that it reduces the shelf life of the product. This can also worsen existing skin conditions such as blemishes and rashes. In order to make the best skincare and makeup, manufacturers need the purest possible water.

9. Cleaning

You may have experienced disappointing results when you used unfiltered water for cleaning glass shower doors, computer screens, window, or other surfaces. This is because the minerals and salts in certain water types can leave soap scum on surfaces. DI water is an ion magnet because it contains no ions. The ions from dirt and grime are attracted by the DI water. When you use DI water to clean and for other household tasks, your windows, bathroom and kitchen fixtures will be brighter and smoother. The zero-mineral water doesn’t cause mineral deposits and scale, which can damage appliances and delicate surfaces.

10. Extinguishing Systems

Water-fog systems for fire extinguishing also use demineralized water. These systems are often used in environments with sensitive equipment, like high-voltage electrical or delicate electronic equipment. DI water is less electronic-conductive than regular water and will extinguish fires without causing damage to equipment.

What is the difference between deionized water and distillate water?

Many people confuse distilled and deionized waters. There are some important differences between them. The results are also different.

Deionized Water and Distilled Water

The water is then filtered through a resin that has been electronically charged. Deionization, unlike distillation where contaminants and most mineral ions are removed, only removes the ions. Due to this, water should first be filtered to remove organic matter, and then further filtered with an RO system in order to remove significant numbers of additional contaminants. The pre-treatment leaves a very small amount of ionized mineral for the DI system.

Distilled water, on the other hand, is made by boiling water to steam and then collecting it in a container that’s sterile, where it condenses back into water. Water has a lower melting point than many contaminants, including minerals. This means that they are left behind as the water is turned into steam. The resultant water is 99.9% pure, as all salts, minerals and organic and inorganic material are removed. But that does not mean the distillation process removes all impurities. Impurities in the water will evaporate, and remain in the distilled solution. This is especially true if your source water was not pre-filtered or contained contaminants such as volatile organics.

What are the differences in their use?

Deionization produces high-purity water. Choosing between DI and distilled depends on the use you plan to make of it. Distilled water tends to be purer than DI water, especially when it has been pre-filtered. In this case, the water should be free of bacteria and pathogens which could remain in DI water. Double or triple distillation can make distilled water more suitable for all laboratory uses, even those in which DI water may not be pure enough.

DI water can be used for a variety of purposes, such as cooling, cosmetics, food and pharmaceutical industries. If you don’t need very pure water, DI water can be a cheaper alternative. It is also easier to produce.

What about time and cost differences

The distillation can be time-consuming, especially if large quantities of water are required to be boiled and cooled before being collected. The distillation process also requires heat in order to boil the water, and a sterile storage container. When distilled water is exposed over time to air, it becomes deionized.

Deionization, on the other hand, can be done relatively quickly, especially if you use a resin with mixed-bed. This means that the water only needs to be passed through once. Most DI systems use two tanks or cartridges with mixed-beds to remove all ions. It’s still a faster process than distillation. Deionization, which is a chemical procedure, requires energy to control the process and move water through the system. The process can be made more expensive and time-consuming if the DI is regenerated locally.

Benefits of using deionized water

Deionized water is a good option depending on the purpose and where it will be used.

DI water has many benefits:

•  High purity: DI water is among the purest available water to humans. Many manufacturers choose DI water to prevent damage to machines due to corrosion, buildup, and contamination of foods, beverages, medicine, cosmetics, or other products.
• Non-corrosive : DI water is non-corrosive because it has minerals removed.
• No residue: There is no residue left after drying the water, as it does not contain any contaminants. This also reduces mineral deposits and calcium.
• Low conductivity: DI water is low conductivity because it has little or no ions. This is important in situations where highly conductive water could cause interference and damage.
• Excellent solvent: Deionized Water is an excellent solvent. It is used to combine different ingredients without adding any minerals that could ruin the mixture.
• Quick production time: Although deionization is a complex process, it is still quicker to produce DI water than any other type of water.

Use of Deionized water can be dangerous

• Lack of or inadequate intake of minerals such as calcium, magnesium and others: While water isn’t the primary source for these nutrients, their absence in DI water can put people at risk of nutritional deficiencies. Since most modern diets do not contain adequate amounts of these nutrients, one could suffer from preterm delivery, heart disease and fractures if they don’t meet their nutritional needs from the food they eat each day.
• The effect on the intestinal mucous, metabolism, mineral balance, and other functions of the body: It has been shown that drinking water low in minerals can harm the homeostasis mechanism, which compromises the mineral and water metabolic processes.
• Demineralized Water is Highly Aggressive: Demineralized water is highly aggressive, attacking water distribution pipes and storage containers. It leaches metals in the water and increases your intake of toxic elements. The DI water can also leach the plastics from containers made of plastic monomers or similar materials.
• Water DI is said to have a lower ability to quench thirst: It could be because the water lacks electrolytes to replenish what is lost by sweating and urinating.
  Fluoride can cause tooth damage. It is added to water to prevent tooth decay. Fluoride is lost during deionization. This can lead to cavities, if you don’t maintain good dental hygiene.
• DI water is not the same: It’s said to taste bad because it lacks minerals which give water its flavor. It is said to have a blander, less flavorful taste. Others say that it tastes strange and feels prickly, even though it didn’t cause them any irritation or dissolving tissues. You might feel compelled to drink other drinks, such as soda, that are bad for your health.

Should you drink deionized drinking water?

Deionization does not necessarily make DI water unfit to drink. However, it is important to remember that the process removes only the ions. This process does not remove other contaminants such as bacteria and viruses. Even though DI water comes from municipally treated water, it can still contain contaminants that have leached from the old pipes. We don’t recommend drinking DI-water unless you have a water filter installed at home to improve water quality. You risk losing vital minerals if you do drink DI water.

Filtering your tap water using a household water filter system is a better option. These systems can remove various contaminants found in tap water, while maintaining its taste and essential minerals.

Our SWRO reverse-osmosis system might be the best option for you if you need to filter water only in certain areas of your home, such as at your kitchen sink. Our SWRO filters are powerful and efficient undercounter filters which use reverse osmosis technology to remove toxic contaminants. Heavy metals such as lead, arsenic and fluoride are among the pollutants. Other pollutants include chemicals like pesticides and herbicides.

Our SWRO systems can be easily installed under a standard sink and produce up to 75 gallons per day of clean, fresh water. These systems are the best way to remove contaminants from your water, which could harm you or your family. Learn more about Reverse Osmosis drinking systems.

Why All chemical?

We have over 20 years of experience in the field of water quality and we know the importance and need for high-quality drinking water in communities across the country. We believe that every family should have access to the purest possible water. That’s why, we manufacture high-quality water systems for the home at affordable prices with the most advanced technologies.

Our Central Florida Facility designs, builds, and packages all of our water systems in the U.S. You can be confident that our water systems are robust, reliable and efficient, and will deliver the best possible results. You can save up to 50% if you purchase directly from the factory! Also, you get free shipping and a lifetime guarantee on the tanks and vales, as well as a money-back guarantee for six months. We offer a flexible financing option, and our customer service is reliable and responsive to all your questions and concerns.

Final Thoughts

Deionized Water does not contain any mineral ions. This unique property may make it suitable for certain applications but not for drinking. This water is perfect for laboratory experiments, cosmetics, food processing and cooling systems. DI water, however, is not only mineral-free, but also corrosive. The water can also damage tooth enamel and soft tissue. Also, deionization does not remove pathogens. It may not be able to protect you from infectious diseases. Our home water systems can fill in this gap so that you and your family will be able to enjoy drinking clean water at home.