1. Home
  2. Water Treatment Chemicals
  3. What is 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!

Search here

Don’t forget to share this post!

Categories

Suggested Blog Posts

View all News
By Ecolink Team
Electronic Grade
May 23 2025

What is Electronic Grade Chemicals?

Find yourself wondering what electronic grade chemicals are? Whether you’re trying to figure out the best chemical for cleaning your cell phone or need bulk chemical...
By Ecolink Team
Electronic Grade IPA
May 21 2025

What is Electronic Grade IPA

Isopropyl alcohol, commonly referred to as IPA, is a great solvent for cleaning. But when it comes to cleaning delicate surfaces such as electronics, the type of IPA...
By Ecolink Team
May 16 2025

6 Benefits of Water Treatment Chemicals for Boilers

Proper chemical treatment is essential for disinfecting water and preventing buildup in boilers. But what other benefits are there? In this blog post, we’ll take a...
By Ecolink Team
Industrial Cleaning Chemicals & Retail Cleaners
May 14 2025

Industrial vs. Retail Cleaners: Which Are Best?

We all clean. Whether you own a dental office, a townhouse, or a factory, cleaning is an essential part of your daily operations. But when it comes to choosing the best...
By Ecolink Team
non-destructive testing
May 12 2025

What is Non-Destructive testing? A Brief Overview

Evaluating a product’s materials and internal components is one of the best ways to test the integrity of a product. But how does each industry evaluate their products?...
By Ecolink Team
Best vehicle degreasers
May 09 2025

Best Vehicle Degreasers: Efficient Solutions for Removing Grease

fleets for their operations. Grease buildup can hinder efficiency and diminish the overall aesthetics of vehicles. To combat this challenge, businesses need the best...
By Ecolink Team
Vehicle Maintenance
May 07 2025

Vehicle Maintenance: Keeping Your Fleet in Top Condition

For many business operations, a well-maintained fleet of vehicles is not only a functional necessity; it is a reflection of a company’s commitment to efficiency and...
By Ecolink Team
Mechanical Cleaning Process
May 05 2025

Mechanical Cleaning Process: Methods and Equipment Overview

The mechanical cleaning process has emerged as a cornerstone for achieving optimal equipment performance in industrial maintenance. Industries- no matter their size or...
By Ecolink Team
Mechanical cleaning
May 02 2025

Mechanical Cleaning: Essential Techniques for Industrial Maintenance

In industrial maintenance, cleaning stands out as a fundamental process for ensuring optimal equipment performance and prolonging the lifespan of machinery. This method...
By Ecolink Team
Cleaning Electrical Contacts
Apr 30 2025

Cleaning Electrical Contacts: 5 Tips for Effective Maintenance

Electrical contacts are important circuit components found in machines and electrical equipment that are made from conductive materials. When two contacts touch, they...
View all News