Why Laboratory Water Must Be Pure

In any chemical analytical process, there is a need for a solvent or diluent that is both neutral and non-reactive to other chemical elements

. Water, in its natural form, can provide for such solvency and dilution. Water has a neutral pH, and is simple in its molecular form. It is the most common liquid substance on earth, and without it, life would not even have a beginning.

Untreated water can have hazardous components present, and so would not make a good solvent or diluent for the laboratory. Laboratory water must be clean and free of mineral salts and solids, bacteria, and have a completely neutral pH. This is paramount for correct chemical reactions to occur in chemical analysis procedures. Any contaminant in the water used in chemical analysis can cause erroneous results in the test results. In a medical laboratory setting, this would be dangerous.

Pure laboratory water can be manufactured in many ways, and the purer the water is, the best results are obtained by the instruments being used for chemical analysis. Purified water should be free of particles of artifact matter, minerals such as calcium carbonate and iron, bacteria, and foreign chemicals that may interfere with chemical analysis. Minerals in laboratory water can cause electrical interference of metal sensing probes, and can eventually clog tiny tubules used in the instrument.

Bacteria in water, whether non-pathogenic or pathogenic, can wreak havoc with an instrument dependent on water for rinsing cells, well plates, or probes. Bacteria can flourish within the system and eventually cause clogging of the lines, or even irreparable damage to sensitive sensors that are in contact with the water. Molds and fungi can also infiltrate a system from dirty laboratory water, and it does not have to be explained what these organisms can cause.

Distillation machines in the laboratory can help alleviate some of these problems by purifying the water to its basic molecule. Evaporation of the steam and then condensing it back to a liquid state can rid the laboratory water to a much more pure condition. The only drawback from this technique would be the buildup of minerals in the steam production device. Constant cleaning would be necessary. This method also does not guarantee against bacterial or viral contamination.

Deionization is by far the most prolific of laboratory water purification. This method uses special electrically charged resins to draw minerals out of solution, and can filter out other particulates with ease. The water is left clean of any particle solids that may interfere with the testing devices. This also cannot assure water free of organisms, but the assurance of mineral and particulate free laboratory water is made.

Pre-filtering water before using one of these techniques can boost the overall effectiveness of each. Cotton-wound filters in a canister setup can rid laboratory water of large particles and rust. The second stage can be a solid carbon block, with the water forced through it. This can greatly reduce bacterial counts, and chemicals that may have been introduced into the water supply for sterilization, such as hypochlorite and chloramines.

Pure laboratory water is necessary for the proper use of scientific analyzers that are dependent on water for dilution, rinsing, and solvency. Achieving a pure water for the laboratory is the first step to a successful laboratory.

by:Andrew Long

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