Deionized Water Treatment

Deionization helps remove metals from water.

There are several methods of water treatment that are meant to purify water. One method results in deionized water, or DI water. This purifying method is effective in some ways, but falls short in others.

Process

When water is deionized it is passed through certain resins called "ion exchange resins." This removes ionized chemicals which have been dissolved. Organic materials, however, are not removed.

Concerns

Because deionizing water does not remove organic materials--only ions and metals--microorganisms can become prolific, contaminating the water with bacteria and rendering it unsafe to drink.

Solution

The ion exchange resins must be sanitized and regenerated on a regular basis in order to avoid contamination. To ensure that the water is safe to drink, it must go through several other methods of purification.

References

• Edstrom: Water Treatment Guide