Deionized water

What is Deionized Water?

Deionized water, also known as DI water or demineralized water, simply means water that has had ions removed. Ions are electrically charged molecules found in sunlight, radiation, air, and water. They either have a net positive or net negative charge: ions with a positive charge are “cations” and negatively charged ions are “anions.”

deionized water

For industrial, chemical, and other applications in which water is used as a rinsing agent, these ions are considered impurities and need to be removed from the water for accurate work. Some common ions found in water include: 

  • Calcium (Ca++) 
  • Iron (Fe+++) 
  • Sodium (Na+) 
  • Hydrogen (H+) 
  • Chlorides (Cl-) 
  • Hydroxyl (OH-) 
  • Sulfates (SO4–) 
  • Nitrates (NO3-) 

How is Deionized Water Made? 

DI water is made by running any type of water (tap, distilled, spring, etc.) through a resin that is electrically charged; both positive and negative ions are in this resin. Sometimes, two electrically charged resins may be used–one resin will remove the negatively charged ions, and one will remove the positively charged ions. The cation resin, or the one containing positively charged ions, is usually first in line.  

When the starting water is rinsed through the resin(s), the cations and anions exchange with hydrogen (H+) and hydroxyl (OH-) in the resin, which in turn produces H2O or water. This process results in demineralized water, which is reactive, meaning that the properties of the water begin to alter as soon as it is exposed to air. Normal water has a pH of about 7, which is neutral on the pH scale. DI water also has a pH of 7 after initial production, but the carbon dioxide in air incites a reaction that produces hydrogen and bicarbonate (HCO3-), lowering the pH to about 5.6, which is more acidic than normal water.  

Demineralized water is made in something called a DI water system. This system is an arrangement of water tanks (and other components) that are used to purify water. A DI system can be a single tank or a set of multiple tanks and may be used for other water purification methods such as UV disinfection or reverse osmosis. Each tank in these systems contains the electrically charged resin used to remove ions from water. Tanks may be larger or smaller in size, depending on the quantity of water that will be processed through them.  

What is Deionized Water Used For? 

Usually, DI water is used in chemical laboratory settings where the water needs to be 100% pure. Higher water purity means more predictable, accurate results that can be repeated multiple times. This is also useful in pharmaceutical settings.  

Aside from this, demineralized water has several household applications. This includes: 

  • humidifiers 
  • household appliances that produce steam 
  • aquariums 
  • automotive car 
  • cleaning products 
  • hygiene products 
  • fragrances 

Need to Make Some Deionized Water? 

Look no further! Contact the Ecolink team with any questions you may have. We provide a whole product category of water treatment chemicals to find the one that best fits your needs!

water treatment

What is a Water Treatment Plant?

Water treatment plants are extremely important to our society. There are multiple different kinds, and they can do things like make drinking water or treat wastewater (sewage). In this article, we’ll take a closer look at what exactly a water treatment plant is and the different things that these plants can be used for.  

water treatment

What is Water Treatment? 

This is defined as any process that makes water suitable for specific end-use by enhancing its quality. Specific plants that treat water remove toxic impurities so that the water can reenter the environment without causing excess harm. Treating water restores the oxygen content to the water, while also breaking down: 

  • organic matter 
  • pollutants 
  • other solids 

How Does Water Get to A Treatment Plant? 

Water is delivered to different plants through a network of pipes or sewers that are connected to homes and other buildings. This creates a constant flow of water to the plant for treatment, and away from the plant once treated.  

Wastewater Treatment Plants 

Also known as WWTP, these plants treat water that comes from several types of locations: 

  • domestic 
  • industrial 
  • agricultural 
  • medical 

Essentially, any facility that produces contaminated water must send their water to a WWTP so that it can be treated to be released into the environment with no detrimental impact. Sewage and industrial wastewater are the most common in these plants. Sewage water is any water that comes from toilets, bathtubs, sinks, showers, etc. Industrial wastewater comes from commercial facilities and has an entirely different composition than sewage. Once the wastewater undergoes treatment, it is inspected and reused or released into the environment.  

Drinking-Water Treatment Plants 

DWTP removes dangerous particles from water that may cause disease or disrupt the welfare of the public. These plants are responsible for supplying clean drinking water to the public. Water may be treated differently based on the quality of the water that comes into the plant in different locations. Examples of types of water that may enter a DWTP include: 

  • lake water 
  • ocean water 
  • river water 
  • groundwater 

Once treatment occurs, the water is stored in a closed reservoir and is disinfected. After this, it can finally flow through the network of pipes to homes and other buildings.  

A common way for this water to be treated is through reverse osmosis (RO), which is essentially a method of filtration that uses extreme amounts of pressure. This is usually seen in the foodservice industry, as well as in facilities that use boilers or other machinery that requires clean water. 

Looking for Water Treatment Chemicals? 

Contact Ecolink, Inc. today for assistance in purchasing the right chemicals for your needs! We provide a variety of water treatment chemicals to choose from! 

water treatment chemicals deionized water

Differences Between Deionized Water and Distilled Water

Water is a tricky topic. From filtration method to purity level, it’s hard to know exactly what type of water is right for your needs. Two specific kinds of water, deionized and distilled, are very similar in some ways but also hold several key differences. Both deionized water (aka DI water or demineralized water) and distilled water are extremely pure types of water.

deionized water

However, their production is very different. Depending on what water is selected for purification, DI water may actually be less pure than distilled. That being said, purity does not always equal better water, and there are pros and cons to choosing deionized water versus distilled water for certain processes. 

What is Distilled Water? 

This type of water is boiled into purification and thus contains no impurities or contaminants. Unpurified water contains things like: 

  • chlorine 
  • iron 
  • sulfates 
  • dissolved solids 

While this sounds like a great idea for safer drinking water, it may actually do more harm than good in the long run. The distilling process removes most of the natural, helpful minerals from water, making this an unideal candidate for daily consumption.  

Although it’s not the best option for daily drinking, distilled water can be used around the house for many things. Some common uses include: 

  • health equipment, like CPAP machines 
  • humidifiers 
  • irons 
  • aquariums 
  • watering houseplants 
  • car care 

What is Deionized Water? 

Like distilled water, DI water is very pure. Demineralized water is stripped of all ions. This is done through a process involving electrically charged resins and involves rinsing the water through these resins to completely remove all cations (positively charged ions) and anions (negatively charged ions). Usually, DI water is created using both the charged resins and a process called reverse osmosis to completely eliminate the desired contaminants.  

DI water is sometimes referred to as demineralized water because, like its distilled counterpart, most of the minerals found in water are stripped during the deionization process. This means that this type of water, like distilled, is not the best option for drinking use because it does not contain the beneficial nutrients we get from unprocessed water.  

Demineralized water is typically used in laboratory settings or pharmaceutical settings when it is necessary that the water be 100% pure. The reason for this is that pure water yields predictable and repeatable results. It can also be used in the home in the same ways as distilled water.  

What’s the Difference between Deionized Water & Distilled Water? 

Even with all this information, it can still be tricky to pinpoint the exact differences when it comes to deionized water versus distilled water. The main difference is that distilled water contains fewer organic impurities and contaminants because the boiling process kills molecules like viruses and bacteria. Deionized water also has a cleaner production process and leaves behind less residue when used in the desired applications.  

Need Water Treatment Chemicals for Deionized Water? 

Ecolink offers the highest quality products at affordable prices in bulk, eco-friendly quantities. For more information, contact our team here! 

Boiler Chemicals

What Chemicals Are Used In Boiler Water Treatment? 

What chemicals are used in boiler water treatment? There are a number of chemicals that are used in boiler water treatment and they are all required to be approved by the federal statute that requires adherence to the codes. 

Approved Chemicals For Boiler Water Treatment:

  • Alkalinity 
  • Amines 
  • Phosphates or Polymers 
  • Sulfites 

Alkalinity is used to maintain pH levels above 10.5 to control corrosion. Amines are used to increase pH for condensing boilers to control pipe corrosions. Phosphates and polymers are used to control calcium buildup. Polymers attach to the calcium and phosphates sink the calcium to the bottom of the boiler allowing them to exit via the boilers blowdown valve. 

Sulfites are used to control and eliminate dissolved oxygen which is extremely corrosive and damaging to boiler systems. 

Consulting our expert chemists here at Ecolink will help you help you asnwer questions like “what chemicals are used in boiler water treatment?” and determine the correct chemicals required to control and eliminate the compounds in the water created during the boiling processes in boilers. 

Benefits of Shopping For Boiler Chemicals with Ecolink:

  • Bulk Supply – Ecolink offers convenient bulk sizing of all their chemical products including 5-gallon buckets and 55-gallon drums. 
  • Knowledge and Experience – Ecolink has been a leading provider of bulk chemicals since 1991. With over 30 years of knowledge and experience to share with our customers, we can help you better understand your chemical products and supply you with the perfect chemical solutions for your applications.  
  • Variety – Ecolink can serve as a one-stop-shop for all your chemical needs, offering chemicals like boiler cleaners, industrial cleaning solutions, green chemical alternatives, and more. 

What Chemicals Are Used In Boiler Water Treatment? 

If you would like more information about chemicals that are used in boiler water treatment and are looking for a reputable bulk supplier, Contact Ecolink here! Our team of chemical experts is here to answer your questions and help you find the best chemical solutions for your needs.

Boiler Chemicals

Boiler Chemicals 

What are boiler chemicals and how are they used? Boiler chemicals are chemicals specifically  designed to aid in the treatment of water used in boilers that create steam used in all commercial and  industrial buildings, dwellings, and institutions everywhere. These chemicals ensure that boilers fuction properly by preventing the build up of scleas and corrosion that can cause damage and need for replacement.

Ecolink offers a a variety of different boiler chemicals, including our new Boiler Guard, designed to remove existing corrosion and scales, while preventing future build up, to protect boilers and keep them functioning properly. If you are in need of water treatment chemicals for boilers, HVACs, and other major systems, Ecolink can hlep!

Benefits of Shopping For Boiler Chemicals With Ecolink:

  • Bulk Supply – Ecolink is a reliable bulk supplier of a variety of industrial chemicals, offering convenient 5 gallon buckets and 55 gallons drums to accommodate facilities of all sizes. 
  • Knowledge and Experience – Ecolink has been a trusted chemical supplier for over 30 years. Our team of chemists can answer all your questions and help you find the best chemical products for your applications.
  • Variety – Ecolink offers a long, ever growing list of industrial and manufacturing chemicals including boiler chemicals. Ecolink can serve as a one stop shop for all your chemical needs.
  • Eco-Friendly – Ecolink proudly offers a wide range of green chemical alternatives in an effort to reduce the carbon footprint of the chemical industry. If you are interested in making you chemical applications more sustainable, Ecolink can help. 

Want To Learn More About Water Treatment Chemicals? 

If you need help finding a reliable supplier of high quality boiler chemicals in bulk, Contact Ecolink here!  Our team of skilled experts is here to answer your questions and provide you with the best chemicals for your needs. Call today to learn more!