SPA STAR AND CHLORINE
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The benefit of the
when used in a Spa which also employs Chlorine sanitiser.
Spa Star Oxidizing function
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When Chlorine or Bromine react with molecules that contain Ammonia and other nitrogen compounds (found
in urine and other pollutants), it can form compounds such as Chloramine and Bromamine . These undesirable
compounds are the cause of red eyes, itchy skin, and Chloramine is responsible for the “Chlorine smell” when
people often (incorrectly) assume there is too much Chlorine in the pool.
The formation of Chloramines happens even more readily at low concentrations, because the level of "good"
Chlorine (hyperchlorous acid) is too low to oxidize them away.
These compounds can be oxidized back to Hypochlorous acid (the desirable form of Chlorine) and gaseous
Ammonia by break point chlorination. This is simply the addition of enough Chlorine to achieve around 10ppM
Chlorine.
Whilst this method is effective, it has its own problems. Firstly, it can take some days for the Chlorine to return
to a concentration that is safe for swimming. It also adds to the hazards of large volumes of dangerous
chemicals being transported and used in and around the spa pool. Thirdly, the high Chlorine concentration can
damage pool equipment such as pool cleaners, and stainless steel ladders and other fittings.
The Oxidizing function of the
will oxidize Chloramines and other undesirable compounds using
Spa Star
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electrical current instead of high Chlorine concentration. The Oxidizing output is active continuously when
there is water flow through the return-to-pool pipeline, after the filter. In this way, the undesirable compounds
will be oxidized as they are formed in the pool, so they are not able to increase to a concentration that is
noticeable or harmful to humans.
When used in this way, the
can be used not just as a Chlorine replacement device, but also as a
Spa Star
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complimentary product to allow the pool operator to maintain very low chlorine levels (0.2 to 0.5ppM),
without causing undesirable Chloramine build-up.
Testing in full size swimming pools has shown safe, healthy water with no combined Chlorine during hot
summer conditions, whilst maintaining under 0.5 ppM of Chlorine. The tests showed a vastly reduced Chlorine
usage. Pool balance was easier to maintain, with buffer and acid usage also reduced. The most important
result, is that the bathers in the test pools were not subjected to unnecessarily high levels of chemical while
swimming.
SPA STAR AND BROMINE
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The benefit of the
when used in a Spa which also employs Bromine sanitiser.
Spa Star Oxidizing function
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Similar to Chlorine and Chloramines (above), Bromine forms Bromamines after reacting with molecules that
contain Ammonia and other nitrogen compounds (found in urine and other pollutants)
However, in the case of Bromine, the resultant Bromamine is still quite an effective sanitiser, and also does not
off-gas the way Chloramines do. So there is none of the typical itchy eyes and smell that associated with
Chloramines.
However, the Spa Star still oxidizes Bromamines away as they are formed. So the Spa Star user will still
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obtain the best results and economy from using the complementary Bromine sanitiser.
SPA
STAR AND CHLORINE & BROMINE
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15
TM
