bestUV Knowhow

Ultraviolet disinfection
The process to reduce the amount of microorganisms in water, by means of ultraviolet light is
called ultraviolet disinfection. It is used in all kinds of water to reduce the amount of
microorganisms such as bacteria, protozoa, viruses, fungi, algae. Ultraviolet (UV) light is a
natural part of sunlight, whereas the short wavelengths are absorbed by the protecting ozone
layer.

UV lamps designed for water disinfection use a gas mixture containing the element mercury
(Hg). The Mercury vapour is an advantageous gas for UV disinfection applications because it
emits light in the germicidal (germs killing) wavelength range (UVC and UVB). The light output
depends on the concentration of mercury atoms, which is directly related to the mercury vapor
pressure. Mercury at low vapour pressure produces essentially monochromatic (single
wavelength) UV light at 253,7 nm; this occurs in low-pressure UV lamps. At higher vapour
pressures, the frequency of collisions between mercury atoms increases, producing UV light
over a broad spectrum, so-called polychromatic (more wavelengths) medium-pressure lamps
with an overall higher intensity.

UV light in the UV spectrum between 200 400 nm damages the genetic matter (DNA and RNA)
and other molecules inside a micro-organism. The damage kills the specific micro-organism
because it can no longer reproduce. Bacteria, protozoa, viruses, fungi, algae are all sensitive to
exposure to UV light. Because of differences in their shape and structure, their killing
wavelength varies. UV light disinfection adds no chemicals and leaves no residuals in the water.
This presents a huge advantage over chemical disinfection methods. Disinfection with UV light is
proven to be effective and very friendly to the environment and humans.

Dechloramination
Chlorine reacts with compounds in the swimming pool water to give rise to by-products.
Although there is potentially a large number of chlorine-derived disinfection by-products (DBPs),
the substances produced in the greatest quantities are chloramines.
Chlorine reacts extremely rapidly with ammonia in the water to form chloramines
(monochloramine, dichloramine and trichloramine).

Trichloramine (nitrogen trichloride, NCl3) is an undesirable by-product of disinfection, which has

a strong irritating effect on the eyes, nose, throat and bronchial tubes. Its odour is similar to that
of chlorine. Trichloramine is formed, along with other chlorine-nitrogen compounds, in the
chlorination of swimming and bathing pool water. It belongs to the compounds that are
subsumed under the chemical parameter combined chlorine.
Combined chlorine is defined as the sum of the following compounds:
monochloramine, NH2Cl
dichloramine, NHCl2
trichloramine, NCl3
all chlorinated derivatives of urea and organic nitrogen compounds such as creatinine and
amino acids.
 bestUV Knowhow

The process to reduce the amount of chloramines in water is called dechloramination, and it is
often used in public swimming pools.
Chloramines can be broken down by direct action of UV light (photolysis). The two present lamp
technologies, LP and MP, have different effects on the single compounds:
Low-pressure UV lamps emit a single wavelength (254nm) able to break down only
monochloramine. LP lamps are not able to break down the dichloramine and
trichloramine, the most irritant chloramine forms.
Medium-pressure UV lamps emit wavelenghts between 200 and 400 nm, which are able
to break down all three components of bounded chlorine: mono-, di-, and trichloramine.
bestUV offers the equipment and know-how to design the right UV system for the pool water
characteristics at site.

Dechlorination
Chlorine is the most widely used chemical for water disinfection, usually as sodiumhypochlorite
(liquid) or chlorine gas. When chlorine gas or hypochlorite is added to water, hypochlorous acid
(HOCl) is formed. The hypochlorous acid dissociates in water into H+ and OCl (hypochlorite
ion). The degree of dissociation depends on the water characteristics. In certain situations
mainly HOCl is present in other situations mainly OCl. To protect the membranes of food stuff
from free chlorine in the water the manufacturer needs a water source with extremely low
levels of free chlorine.

The process of reducing the amount of free chlorine in water is called dechlorination. It is
often used in water to reduce the amount of free chlorine. UV light is able to dechlorinate water
by direct action (photolysis) on both HOCl and OCl. The effect of UV light on HOCl and OCl is
different, due to the difference in UV absorption. The consequence is that different wavelengths
and UV doses must be applied to dissociate chlorine with direct UV photolysis.

The applied UV dose can differ from hundreds to several thousands of mJ/cm 2 to create the
required effect in the dechlorination process.
The advantage of using UV light instead of chemical dosing or filtration techniques is that it
requires no chemicals and results in no residuals.
bestUV offers the know-how to design the right UV system for the water characteristics at a
specific site.

TOC-reduction
Total Oxidizable Carbons (TOC) is undesirable in high purity water systems in a.o.
pharmaceutical and electronics industry because it serves as a food source to support bacterial
growth and may interfere with downstream processes.

Although the exact structure of the TOCs is difficult to exactly identify and depends on the
original water source, it is known that there are several organic types present:
10% to 20% are colloidal organics
70% to 80% are dissolved organic acids
5% to 10% are neutral organics
It is these last remaining neutral organics present in extensively treated water (UPW), where
ultraviolet (UV) can play an important role and is effective. UV light is able to convert these
neutral organics into removable components.
 bestUV Knowhow

UV light acts in two ways:

1. indirect: oxidation of TOCs by hydroxyl (OH) radicals, created by short wavelength of
185nm
2. direct: photolysis of TOCs by photons, created by wavelengths 185(254) 400nm

The effect of UV treatment is either total mineralization or dissociation of the TOCs making
them removable by polishing filters. A side effect of TOC reduction by UV light is the disinfection
of the treated water. As the applied TOC UV dose is approximately 10 times greater than the
regular UV dose for disinfection, the water is additionally well disinfected after TOC treatment.
UV systems for TOC reduction are typically placed in the make-up or recirculation loops of high
purity water treatment systems.

Advanced oxidation
UV oxidation is a destruction process that oxidizes organic matter in water by the addition of
strong oxidizers ozone (O3) and/or hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and irradiation with UV light.
Destruction of target contaminants is caused by:
direct reaction with the oxidizers
direct UV photolysis (the process by which chemical bonds of the contaminants are
broken under the influence of UV light)
the synergistic action of UV light with the oxidizer (UV/O3 or UV/H2O2)
Reaction products of photo-degradation vary according to the matrix in which the process
occurs.

Advanced UV oxidation processes can be configured in batch or continuous flow modes,

depending on the throughput under consideration. These days the combination of UV light with
hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is very popular to breakdown organic micropollutants in water.

UV light emitted by both medium-pressure (MP) and low-pressure (LP) lamps converts the
hydrogen peroxide molecule into hydroxyl radicals. Hydroxyl radicals are non-selective, reacting
with all kinds of organic compounds creating smaller, biodegradable compounds. In the most
optimal situation, these compounds convert to CO2 and H2O.

The absorption curve of H2O2 is most optimal at a low wavelength (200nm) and decreases with
higher wavelengths (up to 280nm). Both lamp technologies, low-and medium pressure, emit
wavelengths in the spectrum between 200 and 280nm and can be used.
The choice of lamp technology to be used, LP or MP, depends on several factors, such as:
water characteristics (organics, precursors)
operational costs (energy, lamp life)
investment costs (equipment, footprint, building)
The duration of operation and power input depends on influent water quality (UV
transmittance, concentrations of contaminants) and UV quantity (flow rates) to treat it.
A practical issue is the potential fouling of the quartz sleeves and UV sensor due to the water
quality. An automatic cleaning device may be required in certain situations.
bestUV designs UV systems with both lamp technologies (LP and MP) and provides the know-
how to build the right UV system for a specific application and site.
 bestUV Knowhow

Deozonation
Ozone is a very powerful and effective oxidizing agent. It is mainly used to degrade organic
contaminants (color, odor) and enhance formation of particles present in the water prior to
filtration.Ozone is generated on site with limited storage or handling concerns, but the ozone
gas is poisonous.

In clean processes or ultrapure water applications, ozone is mainly used for CIP sanitization
purposes in the process water loops. The dissolved ozone must be removed from the process
water to prevent contact with ingredients. Breakdown of (residual) ozone is therefore essential
in these and other applications before the ozonated water can be utilized or continue in the
treatment process.

The process to reduce the amount of ozone in water is called deozonation. It is often used in
process water to reduce the amount of residual ozone. Ultraviolet light destroys ozone in water
very quickly and easily. Ozone absorbs the wavelength emitted by low-pressure UV lamps; 254
nm is most optimal. The mechanism for breakdown of ozone is called photodissociation. The
ozone (O3) molecule is converted into harmless oxygen (O2).

UV light is a proven method to quickly break down ozone. Its big advantage is that UV light does
not require filtration or additives that may leave behind residuals in the treated water.
bestUV offers the know-how to design the right UV system for the water characteristics at site.
Contact the experts in ultraviolet light to fully optimise your new or existing water treatment
system with bestUV technology.