ChemPharma - Water distribution
When the water has gone through all the purification steps and has reached the highest possible degree of purity, it is stored in tanks. Even then, the control and monitoring doesn’t stop. The clean water (UPW, WFI, etc.) is pumped around to the various consumers, who tap off as needed. The unused water goes back to the storage tank. In principle, this is a closed circuit, but the risk of contamination is always present.
Everything for safety: control of ozonisation and analysis of TOC and microbial contamination
Ozonation takes place just before the water enters the storage tank and at the end of the distribution pipe. Ozone is used as a disinfectant. Finally, an online TOC analysis is done again. This highly pure water is subject to continuous monitoring for microbial contamination. Each individual bacterium is detected within seconds. After all, it is about our health.
Microbial detection
Until recently, samples were frequently taken from the water and plated in the lab. The results took about five days to arrive. Using an online RMS (Real time Microbial System), microbial contamination (Bioburden) is immediately detected. Continuous online monitoring of bioburden is highly recommended, including in the USP.
Ozone analysis
Ozone, O3, is a very strong oxidiser and also highly suitable as a disinfectant because it decays to ordinary oxygen and thus leaves no traces. The proper functioning of the ozone generator, as well as the subsequent breakdown of ozone by UV light, must be checked. An additional ozone analyser is often placed on the return line. The signals from all ozone sensors are collected and processed on one measuring device.
TOC analysis
Organic contamination is detected by a TOC analyser. A continuous analyser that permanently measures the water flow is preferable to a classical system that only periodically analyses a sample. Otherwise, you never know what happens between two analyses.
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