Graph shows inactivation time of Escheria Coli bacteria in tap water bychemical chlorinedosing and by electrochemical disinfection using the DiaCell® water treatment.
Click here to enlarge imageThe DiaCell concept was initially developed for water disinfection in private swimming pools and was later proven to be suitable for many other applications because electrodes can be provided in different configurations. Each configuration leads to a different type of electrolytic process and, therefore, various applications. The electrodes are based on boron-doped diamond (BDD), which is a nano-polycrystalline coating on silicon plates. They are typically used to generate persistent oxidants for disinfection of drinking water or process water. Further potential for this technology is the inactivation of Legionella. The systems are able to destroy organic pollutants, even those that are non-biodegradable. The DiaCell system is used in the treatment of industrial effluents, organic matter oxidation and pollutant removal. Furthermore, the DiaCell systems allow the oxidation of inorganic pollutants, such as cyanides and hypophosphites, which is relevant for the regeneration of plating baths.
Its compact design and high efficiency makes the DiaCell system suitable for laboratory or industrial use, and for the disinfection of private swimming pools. More than 50 of these systems have already been installed worldwide, demonstrating the efficiency and eco-friendliness of this technology.
CSEM plans to create a start-up company, Adamant Technologies, to market these new technologies and products based on diamond coatings in addition to new methods for monitoring water quality.
Continuous monitoring of water quality is not only required for immediate action after contamination, but also to steer and observe the functioning of water treatment systems. Therefore, CSEM has devised new technologies that allow online monitoring of water quality. Highly sensitive microelectrodes together with their dedicated SenSysTM-Control units measure individual substances directly in the water and report the results to predefined points. Special analysis software enables an online determination of the concentrations of disinfectants such as chlorine, ozone and H2O2. Further solutions for the monitoring of parameters, such as O2, Cr, SO4, and S2O8, are currently being developed.
Author’s Note
The CSEM Section Head of Environmental Systems, Philippe Rychen, is based in Neuchâtel, Switzerland. For more information, contact the author at email: [email protected] or visit the website: www.csem.ch.