DISINFECTION

UV SYSTEMS – THE USAGE OF ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT

Ultraviolet light of 200-400 nm is a natural constituent of sunlight, however, intensive radiation of 254 nm has antiseptic properties. When absorbing UV radiation, DNA of microorganisms is broken and unable to reproduce and therefore stops being pathogenic.

Water disinfection with the usage of UV systems is safe for health and environment, does not cause any side effects and is completely reliable. UV systems are a good alternative for methods based on chlorine, chlorine dioxide or other chemical substances. Moreover, UV radiation does not change taste, odour and clarity of water.

UV systems allow to destroy up to 99,99 % of all pathogenic factors, such as: bacteria, protozoans, viruses, mould and algaes.

The use of UV radiation:

-       drinking water – households, hotels, hospitals, schools;

-       sewage;

-       food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industry;

-       swimming pools;

-       fish breeding, aquariums;

-       prevention from Legionella growth in hot water systems;,

-      seawater;

-      process and deionized water for industrial uses;

-       disinfection and ozone depletion.

OZONATION

Ozon O₃ is a natural gas which protects the atmosphere from a harmful UV radiation.

Thanks to its oxidative properties, ozone is widely used in water and wastewater treatment as it effectively eliminates bacteria, viruses, colouring substances and odour, not causing any detrimental side effects. Ozone is entirely safe for the natural environment since it converts into oxygen during the reaction.

The use of ozonation methods:

-        swimming pools – reduction of chloramines and trihalomethanes;

-       drinking water – reduction of colour and odour, improvement of taste, oxidation of heavy metals such as iron or manganese;

-       sewage – reduction of COD (Chemical Oxygen Demand), odour and colour, elimination of viruses and bacteria;

-       food industry – industrial process water treatment, raw water treatment for soft drinks production, disinfection of rinsing equipment.

Ozone is produced from oxygen or air in the ozone generator on the spot of its usage (without the need for storage), and afterwards transferred into water. As it resolves quickly in water, the choice of proper ozonation system, adjusted to a technological process, seems to be extremely important.