Ultraviolet is usually used in facilities that require ultrapure water disinfected at the point of entering the process to ensure zero contamination.
Presently, mining companies are exploring a wide range of water treatment technologies for various applications in the wake of worsening drought conditions. Ultraviolet (UV) radiation water treatment will remain one of the preferred methods specific to water disinfection applications.
Environmentally-friendly and energy-saving, UV radiation is used as a method to inactivate micro-organisms bacteria, viruses and parasites by interrupting nucleic acids and disrupting their DNA, preventing replication, without chemicals. water treatment and disinfection (Veolia Water Technologies, Disinfection of Water). This ability renders UV an effective technology in disinfection. Additionally, it is used for the removal of organic and inorganic chemicals, including chlorine, chloramines, ozone and Total Organic Carbon (TOC) emerging contaminants from the water (Phillips Lighting, What is UV Technology). Mainly, it is utilised in drinking water facilities to complement or replace chlorine-based treatment.
Deployment in industries
UV is usually used in facilities that require ultrapure water disinfected at the point of entering the process to ensure zero contamination. Fields of deployment include, but are certainly not confined to, treatment of ballast water, industrial process water, drinking water, municipal sewage and water for aquaculture, agriculture and horticulture.
Advantages over comparable technologies
UV has a number of advantages over comparable technologies in water disnfenction. Small wonder it is preferred in a number of industries in water purification applications. Mainly, the advantages of using water include the following areas:
- Unlike chlorination and ozonation, there is no residual effect to the water and no disinfection by-products.
- No chemicals, such as chlorine or ozone required
- No effects on taste and odour
- No corrosion problems
- Safe disinfection of drinking water
- Easy to operate and maintain
- No environmental impact
- Short radiation time
- Effective against chlorine-resistant pathogens
- Low capital and operating costs
- Easy to maintain and operate
Reliable equipment
The importance of using the correct UV treatment equipment does not have to be overemphasised. UV treatment is not cast in success, does not always produced the expected outcome. Alpha-Purify (UV Disinfection Technology for the Water Industry) observes: “Optimum disinfection performance is dependent on the correct calculation of the ‘dosage’ of UV light, which is subject to the flow rate of the system and UV transmittance properties of the water itself. For example, fluid containing multiple floating particles and / or impurities will prevent UV radiation from adequately reaching all the microbes, affecting purification results accordingly.”
