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Phosphate (P
2
O
5
)
≤ 0.5 mg/l
≤ 0.1 mg/l
Conductivity (at
25°C)
3 to 15 µs/cm
≤ 3 µs/cm
pH value (degree of
acidity)
5 to 7.5
5 to 7
Hardness (Σ ions of
alkaline earth)
≤ 0.02 mmol/l
≤ 0.02 mmol/l
Appearance
Colorless, clean, without sediments
Compliance with the above data should be tested in accordance with
acknowledged analytical methods, by an authorized laboratory.
Attention:
The use of water for autoclaves that do not comply with the table
above may have severe impact on the working life of the sterilizer
and can invalidate the manufacturer’s guarantee.
Use only deionized water, having a maximum conductivity of 15
µs/cm. Conductivity greater than 15 µs/cm may cause failures.
Tap water supply
The range of hardness value 0.7-2.0 mmol/l (70- 200 mg/l CaCO
3
)
The use of soft water is strictly forbidden!
Please consult a water specialist!
3.6.1
Drain Cooling
The feed water supplied to the drain cooling must meet the following
requirements:
•
Hardness: 0.7 - 0.2 mmol/l.
•
Water temperature shall not exceed 15°C (59°F).
3.6.2
Reverse Osmosis
A Reverse Osmosis (RO) system may be used to improve the quality
of the water used to generate steam in the autoclave chamber.
In RO, the water is forced through a semi-penetrable membrane, which
filters out contaminants to a high degree of efficiency. In deionisation
(DI) ions and charged particles are removed either by electric fields or
by ion exchange in resin beds.
Although the RO cannot normally attain the degree of purity possible
with the DI methods, it is more than adequate for the feed water
intended for clean-steam generators.
Moreover the RO has several advantages:
1.
RO is cheaper to install and to run than DI.
2.
RO removes particulate matter, organic molecules and pyrogens that
DI cannot remove
3.
RO water is less corrosive to steel and copper than DI water.
