Waterguide for water treatment
Technical knowledge and expertise from our engineers
We have compiled explanations and definitions of the most important terms in water treatment. In our Waterguide, we have divided these explanations into categories; you can then use these to narrow down topics. Or simply use the technical term search and you will find what you are looking for. If you still have questions, please do not hesitate to contact us!
Alkalinity
Alkalinity refers to the ability of an aqueous solution to maintain its pH value when acid is added. It is also called acid binding capacity or buffer capacity.
Ammonium and ammonia
The better known substance of the two is ammonia (molecular formula NH3, atomic mass 17 g/mol) and is present as a gas in the alkaline range.
Calcium
Calcium is an alkaline earth metal (symbol Ca, atomic number 20, atomic mass 40 g/mol). It is one of the most common elements in the Earth's crust and is a major constituent of water in terms of quantity. Calcium is also an essential element for almost all living creatures.
Carbon dioxide
In normal conditions, carbon dioxide (symbol CO2, atomic mass 44 g/mol, density 1.98 g/cm3) is a colourless gas with an acidic odour. Under high pressure, CO2 is liquid and can be stored in pressurised gas cylinders.
Chloride
Chloride is the short name for the chlorine anion (Cl-). Chlorine (symbol Cl, atomic number 17, atomic mass 35.5 g/mol) is in the 7th main group and belongs to the halogen elements.
Conductivity
Conductivity is the ability of a conductive chemical substance or mixture of substances to conduct or transfer energy or other substances or particles in space.
Iron
Like oxygen, silicon and aluminium, iron (symbol Fe, atomic number 26, atomic mass 55.85 g/mol) is one of the most abundant elements in the Earth’s crust (5%). Iron is known for its brown colour which it takes on when it comes into contact with oxygen.
Lime-carbonic acid equilibrium
The lime-carbonic acid equilibrium (also known as calcite saturation) refers to the chemical equilibrium between dissolved lime/calcium carbonate (CaCO3, CaO oder Ca(OH)2), carbonic acid (H2CO3) and carbon dioxide (CO2).
Manganese
Manganese belongs to the group of metals (symbol Mn, atomic number 25, atomic mass 55 g/mol) and is found in very low concentrations (950 g/t) in the Earth’s crust (iron is present at 50 g/t).
Oxygen
Oxygen (symbol O, atomic number 6, atomic mass 16 g/mol) is the most common element found in the Earth’s crust and the geosphere (48.9%). It is also the second most common element on the planet (30%; iron is the most common).
pH value
pH is the abbreviation for “potential of hydrogen”. The pH value is defined as the negative decadic logarithm and is the opposite of the pOH value.
SDI
SDI is short for silt density index. It is used to express the amount of particles in the water. It is also used to predict the fouling tendency of a membrane.
Silica
Silica is a product that is formed when silicon (symbol Si, atomic number 14, atomic mass 28 g/mol) and water react. Silicon makes up 27.7% of the Earth’s crust, and is the second most abundant element in the crust after oxygen.
TDS and TSS
TDS stands for “total dissolved solids” and indicates the amount of dissolved substances in a liquid medium. The dissolved substances can be both inorganic and organic. The concentration is always specified in ppm (parts per million).
Temperature
Temperature is a state variable with the symbol T. Germany uses the well-known degrees unit Celsius (°C), invented by the Swedish astronomer, mathematician and physicist Anders Celsius.
In our Waterguide you will find in-depth Information on all aspects of water treatment
Water treatment describes the process of removing contaminants and pollutants from water to make it safe and/or pure for industrial or medical applications. Water treatment can involve a combination of different physical, chemical and biological processes such as filtration, sedimentation, disinfection, reverse osmosis and activated carbon adsorption. The goal is to produce water of a certain quality necessary for subsequent processes.
Water treatment is important in industry for various reasons. For example for:
- Process water: In many industries, water is used as a raw material in various production processes. Here it is important that the water used meets certain quality requirements and is free of contamination.
- Or cooling water: Many industrial plants need cooling water to regulate the temperatures in machines and equipment. The cooling water must be free of impurities to ensure the proper functioning of the equipment. Water treatment ensures that the cooling water has the required quality.
In medicine, water purification can be used in several ways. For example, in the production process of medicines and medical devices, pure water is often needed to ensure that the products are free of contaminants.
The water treatment also plays an important role in dialysis treatment, in which the blood of patients with kidney failure is purified. Thereby, the water must be extremely pure in order to prevent impurities from entering the patient's body. In addition, water treatment is also important in the process of cleaning and disinfecting medical equipment and instruments to ensure that they are free of germs and other harmful contaminants.
Water treatment in medicine is an important process that helps to ensure the safety and effectiveness of medical products and procedures. The water treatment units have special features of their own: They have an almost dead-zone free design with a high stainless steel content.