Choosing the right water purification system for your laboratory
In the laboratory, purified water is essential as it ensures results are not compromised by water contaminants or impurities. It helps with quality control, experiment consistency and with the protection of sensitive lab equipment.
A wide range of laboratory water purifications systems are available to generate lab grade water, such as Reverse Osmosis (RO) water purification systems, Deionised (DI) water systems, Distillation Systems, Ultrafiltration (UF) systems, UV sterilisation systems and Electro deionisation (EDI) systems. laboratory water purification systems use a number of these technologies to achieve the desired water quality for the required lab application.
Selecting the right water purification system also goes beyond experimental accuracy to protecting laboratory equipment as well. Impurities in water can damage sensitive research instruments like autoclaves, spectrophotometers, and cell culture systems.
Hence, it is important to know the key factors to consider when choosing the right laboratory water system to meet your needs. This blog discusses the key factors to consider when choosing water purification systems for your lab water requirements.
Feed Water Quality
Once you have decided on your water source, identify the types of contaminants and impurities in the water and determine your desired output water quality. In water purification technologies, various options are available to remove specific target pollutants. For example, if your requirement is to reduce high ion levels, an RO and deionisation system may be needed.
Output (Treated) Water Quality
Consider the water purity level required for your applications. Experiments, analyses or buffer preparation require different types of water purity. These range from Ultra-Pure with low levels of Ions, particulates, TOC, Endotoxins, RNase, and DNase to general use laboratory type II water.
Water Quantity and flow
Calculate how much water your laboratory will need over the course of a typical day and in a single peak demand case. This will determine the required flow rate from the equipment. When it comes to purification systems, ensuring that they can keep up with the demand of the labs activities is imperative to minimise loss or down time. Therefore, under sizing a purification to cut CAPEX or OPEX outlay is counterintuitive.
Space availability
Find out how much space your laboratory has for the installation of the water purification system. Consider the usage pattern and user ergonomics whilst considering the size of the equipment and how it’s set up. Does it need to sit on a bench, or could it be mounted to a wall? Verify that it can be linked to the existing infrastructure.
Cost
The initial cost of purchasing the purification product should be considered alongside additional expenditures including installation and any services that need to be located by the device. Future operational costs such as consumables maintenance contracts and utilities should also be factored in.
Ease of maintenance
As part of the selection process, ease of operation and maintenance should also be considered. Ensure there is an easy-to-use interface available with simple control and communication of the operational parameters, faults, and service or consumable change reminders. Such as a system will ensure hassle-free usage and longevity of service.
Reputability of system manufacturer
Purchase a system from a reliable manufacturer recognised for producing high-quality and long-lasting equipment. Among the points to also keep in mind when selecting are – system uptime, warranty, and access to manufacturer support.
Regulation and compliance
It is essential that the purification system meets all the regulatory requirements and guidelines applicable to water quality in a laboratory. Some laboratory types, such as those in regulated industries like pharmaceuticals or environmental testing, have specific regulations which the lab is obliged to uphold.
Choosing the right water purification system is crucial if you want to maintain research integrity, protect laboratory equipment, ensure compliance with standards, and optimise overall operation efficiency of your laboratory. It is imperative that researchers and laboratory managers carefully evaluate their water quality requirements and invest in a lab purification system that can meet their specific requirements and budget constraints.
Purite – Lab water purification system experts
With more than 40 years of experience working with laboratory, healthcare, and industry clients worldwide, we can help you tackle the toughest challenges you may face. Our team of specialists can assist you with all aspects of lab water purification. Purite lab water purification systems are supported by a nationwide network of experienced installation, commissioning, and service engineers, with dedicated service contracts and 24/7 customer support available.
Contact us and we can assist you in finding the right laboratory water purification system.
