DI water instead of distilled in humidifier

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kornazoo
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DI water instead of distilled in humidifier

Post by kornazoo » Mon Nov 27, 2006 8:39 pm

Hey All,

I use DI water (deionized) at work and was wondering if I could use that instead of distilled. It is free.

Thanks,
Shelley

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Snoredog
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Post by Snoredog » Mon Nov 27, 2006 8:49 pm

I think distilled, the heat generated usually kills all bacteria, but there is some debate:

http://www.newton.dep.anl.gov/askasci/c ... m00223.htm

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Post by DreamStalker » Mon Nov 27, 2006 9:08 pm

Go with distilled unless you are certain of the source water being de-ionized. As snoredog's link mentioned, de-ionization does not remove most organic compounds. If the source water has volatile organic contaminates (ie. benzene, toluene, trihalomehtanes, vinyl chlorides, etc.) there may be a potential for inhaling them into your body.

Distilled is always safest for both you and your machine reservoir.
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Post by bbeck4x4 » Mon Nov 27, 2006 9:29 pm

I have allways used RO water for my machine, never had a problem using it,
DI is supposed to be one stage better than reverse osmosis water,(its here for my reef tank) so I say go for it, especially if it is ro/di water. (which it probably is, di cartridges are expensive)

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Post by buckeyered » Mon Nov 27, 2006 9:35 pm

I would use RO water if the final stage of the RO unit is UV.

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bbeck4x4
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Post by bbeck4x4 » Mon Nov 27, 2006 9:43 pm

uv is good, but at the rate at which I create/use water for the tank(2-5 gallons a day) there is not much chance that there is anything available to grow, it can't get past the ro membrane(viruses/germs are way larger than the ro membrane) this ro water is plumbed to my icemaker, reef tank, and a faucet by the sink(where I get the water for the humidifier) the TDS of the ro is currently below .002 good enough for me.

DI really is overkill, many people use tapwater and clean their tanks more often, my tank is 9 months old and still no hard water buildup is visible.


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Goofproof
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Post by Goofproof » Mon Nov 27, 2006 9:57 pm

Can't find a dollar for a jug of distilled water? Check under the sofa Cushions. If not why bother, it's just your lungs. Jim
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Post by DreamStalker » Mon Nov 27, 2006 10:06 pm

Goofproof wrote:Can't find a dollar for a jug of distilled water? Check under the sofa Cushions. If not why bother, it's just your lungs. Jim
A dollar!!

Its only 69 cents at the local grocery ... but WalMart may have a few jugs for even less ... and there are no VOCs to collect in your lungs or your HH reservoir.
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Post by bbeck4x4 » Mon Nov 27, 2006 10:09 pm

point is RO water is better than distilled, cheeper to produce long term and is less acidic than distiled.

from this website
http://www.freedrinkingwater.com/water- ... method.htm

http:/Reverse Osmosis

Reverse osmosis (RO) is the most economical method of removing 90% to 99% of all contaminants. The pore structure of RO membranes is much tighter than UF membranes. RO membranes are capable of rejecting practically all particles, bacteria and organics >300 daltons molecular weight (including pyrogens). In fact, reverse osmosis technology is used by most leading water bottling plants.

Natural osmosis occurs when solutions with two different concentrations are separated by a semi-permeable membrane. Osmotic pressure drives water through the membrane; the water dilutes the more concentrated solution; and the end result is an equilibrium.

In water purification systems, hydraulic pressure is applied to the concentrated solution to counteract the osmotic pressure. Pure water is driven from the concentrated solution and collected downstream of the membrane.

Because RO membranes are very restrictive, they yield slow flow rates. Storage tanks are required to produce an adequate volume in a reasonable amount of time.

RO also involves an ionic exclusion process. Only solvent is allowed to pass through the semi-permeable RO membrane, while virtually all ions and dissolved molecules are retained (including salts and sugars). The semi-permeable membrane rejects salts (ions) by a charge phenomena action: the greater the charge, the greater the rejection. Therefore, the membrane rejects nearly all (>99%) strongly ionized polyvalent ions but only 95% of the weakly ionized monovalent ions like sodium.

Reverse osmosis is highly effective in removing several impurities from water such as total dissolved solids (TDS), turbidity, asbestos, lead and other toxic heavy metals, radium, and many dissolved organics. The process will also remove chlorinated pesticides and most heavier-weight VOCs. Reverse osmosis and activated carbon filtration are complementary processes. Combining them results in the most effective treatment against the broadest range of water impurities and contaminants.

RO is the most economical and efficient method for purifying tap water if the system is properly designed for the feed water conditions and the intended use of the product water. RO is also the optimum pretreatment for reagent-grade water polishing systems.

In addition, Reverse osmosis treatment is an insurance policy against nuclear radiation such as radioactive plutonium or strontium in the drinking water. If one lives near a nuclear power plant, this is a key way to ensure the household is drinking the best water for their health.

Advantages

Effectively removes all types of contaminants to some extent (particles, pyrogens, microorganisms, colloids and dissolved inorganics).

Requires minimal maintenance.

Disadvantages

Flow rates are usually limited to a certain gallons/day rating.
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Last edited by bbeck4x4 on Mon Nov 27, 2006 10:13 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Post by bbeck4x4 » Mon Nov 27, 2006 10:11 pm

Distillation

Distillation is probably the oldest method of water purification. Water is first heated to boiling. The water vapor rises to a condenser where cooling water lowers the temperature so the vapor is condensed, collected and stored. Most contaminants remain behind in the liquid phase vessel. However, there can sometimes be what is called carry-overs in the water that is distilled. Organics such as herbicides and pesticides, with boiling points lower than 100 °C cannot be removed efficiently and can actually become concentrated in the product water. Another disadvantage is cost. Distillation requires large amounts of energy and water.

Distilled water can also be very acidic, having a low pH, thus should be contained in glass. Since there is not much left, distilled water is often called “hungry” water. It lacks oxygen and minerals and has a flat taste, which is why it is mostly used in industrial processes.

Table 1. Distillation
Advantages

Removes a broad range of contaminants

Reusable

Disadvantages

Some contaminants can be carried into the condensate

Requires careful maintenance to ensure purity

Consumes large amounts of energy

System usually takes a large space on counter

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Post by DreamStalker » Mon Nov 27, 2006 10:13 pm

[quote="bbeck4x4"]point is RO water is better than distilled, cheeper to produce long term and is less acidic than distiled.

from this website
http://www.freedrinkingwater.com/water- ... method.htm

http:/Reverse Osmosis

Reverse osmosis (RO) is the most economical method of removing 90% to 99% of all contaminants. The pore structure of RO membranes is much tighter than UF membranes. RO membranes are capable of rejecting practically all particles, bacteria and organics >300 daltons molecular weight (including pyrogens). In fact, reverse osmosis technology is used by most leading water bottling plants.

Natural osmosis occurs when solutions with two different concentrations are separated by a semi-permeable membrane. Osmotic pressure drives water through the membrane; the water dilutes the more concentrated solution; and the end result is an equilibrium.

In water purification systems, hydraulic pressure is applied to the concentrated solution to counteract the osmotic pressure. Pure water is driven from the concentrated solution and collected downstream of the membrane.

Because RO membranes are very restrictive, they yield slow flow rates. Storage tanks are required to produce an adequate volume in a reasonable amount of time.

RO also involves an ionic exclusion process. Only solvent is allowed to pass through the semi-permeable RO membrane, while virtually all ions and dissolved molecules are retained (including salts and sugars). The semi-permeable membrane rejects salts (ions) by a charge phenomena action: the greater the charge, the greater the rejection. Therefore, the membrane rejects nearly all (>99%) strongly ionized polyvalent ions but only 95% of the weakly ionized monovalent ions like sodium.

Reverse osmosis is highly effective in removing several impurities from water such as total dissolved solids (TDS), turbidity, asbestos, lead and other toxic heavy metals, radium, and many dissolved organics. The process will also remove chlorinated pesticides and most heavier-weight VOCs. Reverse osmosis and activated carbon filtration are complementary processes. Combining them results in the most effective treatment against the broadest range of water impurities and contaminants.

RO is the most economical and efficient method for purifying tap water if the system is properly designed for the feed water conditions and the intended use of the product water. RO is also the optimum pretreatment for reagent-grade water polishing systems.

In addition, Reverse osmosis treatment is an insurance policy against nuclear radiation such as radioactive plutonium or strontium in the drinking water. If one lives near a nuclear power plant, this is a key way to ensure the household is drinking the best water for their health.

President-pretender, J. Biden, said "the DNC has built the largest voter fraud organization in US history". Too bad they didn’t build the smartest voter fraud organization and got caught.

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Post by bbeck4x4 » Mon Nov 27, 2006 10:18 pm

find me a link that proves it. I have many references that RO water is better quality water, than distilled, ask someone that works in a lab what quality of water they use for testing, many use RO water for their tests.

bottom line is: I already had a RO water unit, I maintain it for my reef tank, why would I want a lesser water in my humidifier? Do some research yourself on the quality of Reverse Osmosis water. When was the last time there was a breakout of e-coli got into your local water supply?


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Goofproof
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Post by Goofproof » Mon Nov 27, 2006 10:28 pm

Which would be better RO at 99% pure at best, OR Distilled at 100% and Steam Distilled (Boiled).

Do The Math! Jim
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Post by bbeck4x4 » Mon Nov 27, 2006 10:31 pm

IHMO: bottom line is that the distilled water is good, Ro is slightly better, now would I recommend a person that is on a low budget to run out and purchase one of these units instead of buying distilled water just for their humidifier? my answer would be no, of course not.


http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/AE009 (another link)

Nitrate and Nitrite Control
Often the best solution for nitrate and nitrite pollution is relocation of the well or drilling the well deeper into an uncontaminated aquifer. The only effective methods of treatment are distillation, reverse osmosis and high quality ion-exchange columns, but these will often not be economically feasible. Activated carbon filters will not remove nitrates or nitrites.

Volatile Organic Halide Removal
The only effective methods for removing volatile organic halides are activated carbon filtration and reverse osmosis. Reverse osmosis would be feasible only if other problems required its use. Studies done by The American Water Works Association show that the reduction efficiency for halogenated organics by activated carbon filters ranges from 76% for a faucet-mounted unit to 99% for several larger in-line units. However, one must keep in mind that the reduction is dependent on flow rate, contact time, and cleanliness of the unit as discussed in the section on these filters.

Trace Metals Removal
Methods for the removal of trace amounts of toxic metals include distillation, ion exchange, reverse osmosis, and activated carbon filtration. All systems are quite expensive and are usually installed on drinking water lines only. The ion-exchange resins must be selected very carefully with regard to the metals needing removal and other metals present in the water which may interact with the process. The other three methods, distillation, reverse osmosis, and activated carbon filtration, and their limitations were described earlier


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Post by bbeck4x4 » Mon Nov 27, 2006 10:40 pm

FWIW, first things first, I love a good discussion,
goofproof I have read many of your posts and agree with you 99% of the time, on this one issue(not a flame) the thing is both are good for a humidifier, I am not trying to say that distilled should not be used, and is bad. so please don't get me wrong on that issue, the very fine point that I am trying to say is that RO water is, and if you have it available, a slightly better quality water,
there is less chance of something in the water( there can be much discussion on just how much of that can get out of the water) and it is a purer water source.

brian