Can LEDs help to purify water? Source
According to Mitch Hansen, an e-marketing specialist, when it comes to water purification, Ultraviolet (UV) light has been widely used since ages. The sun has the power to inactive water-based pathogens in less than six hours. Unclear water paves way for defective conditions that facilitate bacteria to grow, thus causing unsafe water. However, there are a number of options available these days right from varied chemicals to UV lamps.
Why to shift from chemical and UV treatment?
There is simply no doubt that technological advancements have given birth to a number of water purification methods. Adding chlorine to water is the most common water purification methods of them all. However, usage of such chemicals comes with downfalls such as production of harmful byproducts, toxic to aquatic life, highly corrosive in nature etc, Hansen added.
Hansen says that even though UV purification process is regarded to be safer than the chemicals, it is to be noted that traditional UV lamps consist of about 20-200 milligrams of mercury and are vulnerable to crack in case of handling, operation and transportation. To top it all, improper procedures and frequent accidents tend to increase exposure risk.
Can LEDs really help to purify water?
LEDs are loaded with a number of advantages such as quick on/off times, reduced power consumption, longer life etc. Now and then, you will come across advancements in the field of LEDs and the latest innovation is none other than UV LEDs, he explained.
In contrast to traditional UV lamps, LEDs don’t contain mercury which means that there is no danger of polluting the water in case the lamp gets broken. Traditional lamps also need 5-10 minutes to heat up to peak disinfection temperatures, whereas UV-C LEDs come with a start time of some nanoseconds thus, facilitating immediate disinfection and flexible running times.
LEDs are blessed with low energy consumption quality and the same is right for UV-C LEDs as well. While, the traditional mercury lamps need between 110 to 240 volts to function, LEDs need low voltage DC. This means that disinfection motorized with a small solar panel is possible.
LED technology all the way
Hansen also said that the LED technology facilitates UV water treatment to be used in a number of applications formerly unavailable to traditional UV lamps. For instance, remote communities can effortlessly disinfect water with solar power alternatives. Also, mobile uses are now obtainable owing to the severity and compactness of the UV-C LED devices.
When applied at the summit of use, extra safety can be given to water in research facilities and hospitals without the requirement of storage tanks. UV-C LED technology is not merely theoretical; in fact the BIOWYSE Project is working on a device at present that will apply UV-C LEDs to purify water onboard the International Space Station. UV-C LED devices are presently accessible and ready to alter the water purification market.
LEDs are regarded as important factors in a number of technological innovations with water purification as one of the main applications. Even though mercury lamp accidents are uncommon when lamps are installed accurately, the varied advantages of UVC LEDs account for their increased popularity and usage. It is now time to take water purification process to the next level with LEDs.
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