An Explanation of How Ultraviolet Water Filtration Works
In-depth knowledge of biology, physics and chemistry is required to understand the fundamentals of the way in which an ultraviolet light water filter functions. The technology for ultraviolet light water filters had been initiated a long time ago. Despite that, the scientific principles on which the disinfection carried out with the help of ultraviolet light is based, have a certain degree of complexity about them. For a time period exceeding a century, the concept for cleansing of drinking water through the use of ultraviolet light water filters has been in existence.
The fact that dangerous microorganisms are cleansed from the water by what may be described as a light that comes on in a pipe may be difficult to comprehend for those with little background in science, as a considerable number of consumers are. Representatives who are not knowledgeable may provide information that is incorrect and may lead to giving the wrong information to consumers.
Even though drinking water can be cleansed in a way that is relatively low-cost and is very effective through the use of ultraviolet light water filters, misinformation may lead to lack of adopting on the part of the consumers. And this is unfortunate as the scientific principles on which ultraviolet light water filters are founded upon are not hard to understand for the consumers, even as these are not on the surface simple either.
On the electromagnetic spectrum, those light wavelengths that lie between x-rays and visible light are known as ultraviolet light. Ultraviolet A, ultraviolet B and ultraviolet C are the three sub-categories into which ultraviolet light may be classified into. Since humans get a sun-burn or a sun-tan on account of the first two kinds of wavelengths of ultraviolet light, these are better known than the third type. The type of ultraviolet light that is capable of causing maximum damage, however, is the third type. In ultraviolet light water filters, it is this third kind of ultraviolet light that is used.
Ultraviolet C is a kind of light that can be quite damaging as well as powerful, as has been mentioned before. An organism’s DNA can be damaged and its penetration by light can take place, especially when the wavelength of the ultraviolet C light is 254nanometer and exposure of a living cell to it occurs. Inside all cells that are living, all activities are directed by the deoxyribonucleic acid or the DNA.
In order to function properly, the DNA of all cells has to be unharmed. A staircase of the spiral type is what the DNA’s structure appears like. It may also be said to look like a ladder if it was twisted at both ends. Since two molecules comprise all DNA, another term used to refer to it is ‘double helix’. The connection points can be said to be analogous to the ladder’s rungs and its sides to the molecules.
The DNA can be attacked and the cell can be penetrated through by the ultraviolet C light. Some of the DNA ladder’s rungs are fused together, actually, by the light. Each rung is split and the ladder is traveled along, when DNA is being replicated. DNA replication can not take place as the protein that is meant to split it during the process can not function properly, due to the fusion of several rungs on account of the exposure to ultraviolet C light. Due to this,the cell cannot reproduce. In this way, virus or bacteria cells are rendered incapable of causing infection and, therefore, disease.
Ultraviolet light water filters of different sizes are produced by the manufacturers of such filters, since rate of flow of water can be different under different conditions and that can call for different sizes of filters. You need a longer ultraviolet light for a higher rate of flow. An adequate dose of ultraviolet light can be applied, in this manner.
Article Source: EzineArticles.com