SitaUV for Dechlorination

In many industrial water systems, residual chlorine is typically removed by GAC units.

Activated carbon bed is an excellent breeding ground for bacteria which renders the water system downstream of the activated carbon unit acutely vulnerable to micro-organisms.
Further, since the GAC bed can, through adsorption, simultaneously reduce the levels of organics present in the water stream, these organics would serve as excellent nutrition for the bacteria to thrive and multiply, further enhancing the bacterial growth, which creates the biofouling problem. This may result in inefficient removal of free chlorine by the GAC bed which may result in chlorine breakthroughs.
As an alternative to the use of GAC beds, UV technology can be utilized to destroy free chlorine.

UV technology is an environment-friendly technology, which has to be taken into consideration when weighing the different options available.

The use of UV technology for the elimination of residual chlorine/chloramine has several inherent advantages.
UV radiation does not ‘add’ anything to the water stream such as undesirable color, odor, chemicals, taste, nor does it generate harmful by-products.
The UV process is incredibly fast, effective, efficient, and environment-friendly.
The use of UV radiation for the elimination of residual free chlorine in the water has demonstrated several advantages and benefits:

• Simultaneous dechlorination and greater than  99.99% bacterial reduction
• Continuous system operation with minimum maintenance and head loss (0,02 bar).
• Many water treatment systems include RO units, which commonly use thin-film composite membranes because of their greater efficiency. However, these membranes cannot tolerate much chlorine, so locating the UV unit upstream of the RO can effectively dechlorinate the water, eliminating or greatly reducing the need for neutralizing chemicals or GAC filters. UV also reduce the risk of bacteria biofouling on the membranes.

Moreover dechlorination with UVs avoids following  problems related to GAC bed:

• The risk and expenses incurred due to the proliferation and the resultant infestation of bacteria everywhere within the water treatment system.
• Carbon bed is a major environmental hazard and therefore the costs incurred toward the transportation and proper disposal is higher.

High head loss and regeneration costs