Alternative Sanitizers
Ozone
Generators
Ozone gas is basically an
active form of oxygen that reacts with
bacteria, viruses, algae, and other
impurities in the water. At its
low concentration levels in the water it
has no effect on your skin and eyes.
Many municipal water purification plants
use ozone to treat drinking water. When the ozone gas dissolved in
water comes in contact with impurities it oxidizes them as chlorine chemicals do. It also
causes particles, body oils, and suntan oils, etc. to clump so the filter can remove them more
effectively. Most ozone purifiers for pools
and spas use only about 0.5 amperes when they are running. This is about
the same amount of electricity a 60 watt light bulb uses. Since the ozone generator unit only runs when
the filter pump is operating the total amount of electricity used is not great.
The ozone kit is installed in the
existing pool or spa filtration plumbing. There are several basic designs of ozone
generators but they all inject the ozone gas into the pool water through a small tube. The concentration of ozone gas is strongest at the point of entry for effective
purification. An ozone system is not actually
"no-chemicals" because you will still need to keep a very low residual level of
chlorine in the pool water. This is generally only about 20 percent as much chlorine as
when no ozone is used. The two basic types of ozone
generators are ultraviolet (UV) and corona discharge (CD). UV systems use a fluorescent
light to create ozone as the sun does above the earth. CD units use an electrical arc
inside a generator to create ozone as lightning does (the fresh smell after a storm).
Ozone is the most powerful oxidizer that can be used in a pool or spa, but in most cases
you will need to supplement with chlorine.
Mineral Sanitation
Copper-silver ionization is brought about by
electrolysis. An electric current is created through
copper-silver, causing positively charged copper and silver ions to
form. Copper-silver ionization brings us back to basic chemistry: an ion; an electrically
charged atom, has a positive charge when it gives up an electron and a negative charge
when it takes up an electron. A positively charged ion in called a
cation and a negatively
charged ion is called an
anion. During ionization, atoms turn into cation or anions. When
copper-silver ionization is applied, positively charged copper (Cu+ and Cu2+)
and silver (Ag+) ions are formed.
The electrodes are placed close together and the water that is disinfected flows past the
electrodes. An electric current is created thus causing the outer atoms of the electrodes to
lose an electron and become positively charged. The larger part of the ions flows away
through the water, before reaching the opposite electrode. Generally the amount of silver
ions at a copper ion rate of 0,15 to 0,40 ppm lies between 5 and 50 ppb. The ion concentration is determined by the water flow. The number of ions that is released
increases when electric charges are higher. When copper ions (Cu+) dissolve in water they are oxidized immediately to form
Cu2+ ions. Copper can be found in the water in free form. It is commonly
known to bond
to water particles. Copper (Cu+) ions are unstable in water unless a
stabilizing
ligand is present. Again, you will need to maintain a modest chlorine residual.
Biguanides
Another
alternative is biguanides.
Mostly called by the brand Baquacil, it uses a hydrogen peroxide based oxidizer.
It is important that you do not mix biguanides with chlorine.
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