Does anyone use an alternative method to carbon or nothing at all for the removal of free chlorine?

I believe the ONLY alternative to carbon is deionization, and an expensive alternative at that. I would stick with the chlorine. I don't think AAMI allow's any other substitute either.

quote:

Originally posted by Waterdog:
Does anyone use an alternative method to carbon or nothing at all for the removal of free chlorine?

Have you checked Ultra-Violet light?

Check out the article :
http://davitaknights.com/redox.htm

Interesting stuff.

pato, what does uv light have to do with the removal of chlorine from the h2o.

It is my understanding that if you use DI you still have to have carbon tanks in-line upstream. It is also my understanding that DI WILL NOT remove chlorine from the H2O. Where is Chuck? he is the one to ask he has been doing this for a long time!

Here I am!

We are fortunate to have realitively low levels of free chlorine (no chloramine) in our tap water. Our levels typically run 0.3 - 0.5 ppm and once or twice a year they may get as high as 0.8 ppm.

As the water goes through the water softener, some of the chlorine is converted into chloride. We also use CA membranes in our RO machines which "eat" a little chlorine also. Our post RO levels are typically 0 - 0.1 ppm and have never exceeded the 0.5 ppm AAMI standard.

In my almost 23 years doing this, we have never had a single case of hemolysis caused by chlorine. I have not personally seen any literature but I am told that FREE chlorine will not cause hemolysis until you exceed 2.0 ppm and that the AAMI standards are typically 1/4 - 1/2 of the level that will actually do harm.

Carbon must be used with DI tanks because the chlorine/chloramine dries out and destroys the resins.

Another alternative is ascorbic acid injection which neutralizes the chlorine. If I remember correctly, you need an online chlorine monitor that will automatically meter in the ascorbic acid at the same level as the chlorine.

I have read one article that stated that UV will destroy chlorine but I seem to remember thinking that the UV light to accomplish this was too large to be practical.

I know there are a couple people from water treatment companies that frequent this board, It would be interesting to hear their thoughts on this.

Hi kdet97,
The Ultrapure Water magazine for the month on January 2001 has an article written by Pamela Reeves and Joseph C. Carmody titled "UV Light for Chlorine Removal in a High-Purity Water System". Read this article and you will find an answer to your question.

thanks pato

I've been at this for almost 25 years. The most reliable method is AC tanks or filters. We are also at a location that runs very low chlorine levels. Way back when, we used ascobic acid. The chlorine would bind to the ascobic acid and not pass through the membrane and cause hemolysis at the cell level. Our crits went up and was hailed as a 8th wonder of the world for cutting blood transfusions. Ah, the good old days!

All would not run DI without Carbon up front chlorine + DI tanks cause production of nitrosamines which are carcinogens. In nondialysis applications where chlorine has to be removed a chemical dechlorinating agent can be added, these include injection of sodium thiosulfate, sodium bisulfide, sodium metabisulfide dosing systems.

To see an example (seawater RO Treatment):http://www.foreverpure.com/10k-20k%20SWRO.htm

However, I would look at the article which discusses all these issues in the online issue Water Conditioning and Purification Magazine 2003;45 (1) at the following URL http://www.wcp.net/NewsView.cfm?pkArticleID=1909

Chlorine will also affect the RO membrane. Carbon tanks can last a vetry long time.
Check for chlorine between the tanks.