There are many forms and grades of purified water, and distilled water is one of them. You may remember making distilled water during school science lessons, and it is simple to make at home. Of course, how we make distilled water on an industrial scale is very different, although the principle remains the same.
In this post:
What Is Distilled Water?
Distilled water is simply water that has been heated into a vapour and then condensed back into a liquid. In an industrial sense, this liquid is water that has had almost all of its impurities removed, including organic impurities, ions and minerals. Because of its high purity, factory-made distilled water has wide-ranging industrial applications.
How Do You Make Distilled Water?
There are various ways you can make distilled water at home:
- By heating water on your hob or over a fire. Place a small container in a large container of water over your heat source. Place a lid the wrong way round (i.e. with its handle facing downwards) on the large container. Steam will condense on the underside of your lid and drip down into the small container floating in the water.
- Purchase a home distillation kit
- And if you need to survive in the desert, dig a hole and place a container inside. Fill the gaps around the hole with plants, and cover it with plastic. Heat will be trapped inside the hole, helping water to evaporate and drip from the underside of the plastic into your container. Be warned – this is not a quick process!
How Do You Make Distilled Water On An Industrial Scale?
Industrial distillation facilities use the same principles to make distilled water as you would in the home, but on a much larger scale.
Several boiling chambers are used, each at a different pressure. The steam from the first chamber is under the highest pressure. This chamber is heated, and the steam produced moves through to the next chamber which is at a lower pressure, then the next one and so on. This makes distillation a continuous process, as the steam moves through the chambers to a clean container.
At ReAgent, our commercial distillation facility can make thousands of gallons of water per day.
Uses of Distilled Water
Distilled water is suitable for a wide range of industrial applications as it is very pure. Its purity means it isn’t corrosive, it doesn’t leave a residue, and it doesn’t react with other chemicals.
Distilled water is used in industry and laboratories for cleaning, rinsing and testing. It is used in the manufacture of automotive batteries and in laser cutting, and in the home it is often used in irons.
Can You Drink Distilled Water?
If you distil your water at home using the methods mentioned above, itis safe to drink. Industrial-grade distilled water has much higher purity levels, and the lack of minerals makes the taste unpleasant. Extremely high purity water, like the water we make at ReAgent, is not suitable for human consumption.
At ReAgent, we sell distilled water in sizes ranging from ampoules to 25,000L tankers. Contact our expert team today to discuss your requirements.
