Copper and Silver are used in the ionisation process

Copper/Silver Ionisation Overview

Safe water treatments for controlling micro-organisms

Ionisation is the simplest, cheapest and most effective method of controlling micro-organisms in water. There have been many independent scientific studies, which are readily available, that are able to prove this fact. Read the summaryPDF Viewer

Biological counts are significantly lowered whilst water quality is not compromised in any way. BioN Water Synergetics Pty Ltd has designed its equipment so the addition of metal ions is well below the set upper limits, as laid down by the Australian Government's "National Health and Medical Research Council" and documented in the "Australian Drinking Water Guidelines".

AccuIon™

Our AccuIon™ technology is based on the well-known anti-microbial properties of silver and copper. The AccuIon™ technology releases minute and controlled levels of positively charged silver and copper ions into the water. The ions are attracted to negative sites on bacteria cell walls and cause a breakdown of cellular structure which prevents the cell from multiplying, absorbing nutrient or respiring. This causes the cell to die.

An important but often overlooked aspect of Copper/Silver ionisation is that the ions do not volatilise, burn out or break down in the process as chemical disinfectants do. In other words, there is no diminishing of the residual biocidal effect.

How does Copper and Silver work as a biocide?

the process of ionisation

All micro-organisms such as bacteria, virus and algae have an exterior envelope called the cell wall or cell membrane (1). Put simply, the cell membrane is essential to the integrity and function of a micro-organism and has an electrical charge on it. In the case of Legionella and other relevant pathogens, this electrical charge is negative (-).

The electrical charge on a particle will repel the same charge and attract the opposite charge, just like poles of a magnet. The ionisation process adds copper and silver ions to the water which are positively charged. The ions are naturally attracted to the negatively charged cell membrane.

When the ions make contact with the cell membrane they electrically bond to the membrane (2). The ions then permeate it and begin to disrupt the cells essential functions (3).

Copper is known to be very effective against certain micro-organisms such as algae; however some bacteria and virus can resist the attack and continue their life cycle. This is why silver is also added to the water during ionisation. In the case of most relevant bacteria, including Legionella, the copper and silver ions have a synergistic effect to disrupt the cells' membrane and metabolism to the point where the cell dies (4). Once the micro-organism dies it looses negative charge. This releases the copper and silver ions and allows them to continue to move randomly through the water (5). As they are still attracted to negatively charged micro-organisms, they will continue their work safely and effectively as a biocide.

Flow through vs Recirculation systems

Water by its use, will fall into one of two categories. These are either flow through, or recirculation systems. An example for a flow-through application is potable water, such as institutional hot water systems, municipal mains water supplies, treated effluent, or any water flow that will not present itself to the water treatment equipment more than once.

On the other hand, commonly found recirculation systems are swimming pools, spas and fountains; bodies of water that are recycled, where the same water is being exposed to the treatment device continually.

Obviously a completely different approach is needed when looking at these two differing water flow situations. Flow-through water needs to have the required ions delivered very precisely in one dose, whereas a recirculation system, once brought up to operating parameters, only needs small additions of ions to make up for the natural attrition of water/ions from the loop.

BioN Water Synergetics Pty Ltd has designed and developed unique equipment for both applications.

Although the type and function of the equipment is significantly different, the same basic parameters are still achieved. Biological counts are minimised whilst water quality is not compromised in any way. The addition of metal ions is well below the set upper limits as laid down by the "Australian Drinking Water Guidelines".

Flow-through systems

In the case of Flow-through water treatment equipment, target ion levels are .8 ppm copper and .08 ppm silver. BioN Water Synergetics Pty Ltd ensures this is done accurately by inserting a flow sensing device in the water pipe requiring treatment. As water flow changes constantly throughout the day, the equipment needs to self monitor and change the ion deposition rate to match the amount of water passing through the pipe work. This way the optimal amount of ions is accurately introduced into the water stream, without raising concerns of under or overdosing. We call this proportional dosing the AccuIon™ feature.

No other company can offer such a level of sophistication which gives total peace of mind to the customer.

Recirculation systems

Recirculation water systems have their own idiosyncrasies that require a very different approach to the one already portrayed. Firstly, the ion level in the whole body of water needs to be looked at and not what is passing through a pipe at any given moment in time. The ion level is brought up over a period of time proportional to the water volume. In the case of Olympic size swimming pools, it can take as long as a week to bring the concentration of ions to the specified concentration. Once the correct ion level is achieved in the water, the micro-processor based circuitry's parameters are adjusted to maintain this level with the minimum of fuss and operator intervention. Apart from this, as far as the customer is concerned, all other aspects of recirculation water systems are the same as flow through applications. The ions perform the same function and the same high water quality is produced by either system.

BioN Water Synergetics Pty Ltd is able to provide sophisticated, cost effective technology with very low associated operating and maintenance overheads.

Biofilm

As well as being effective against waterborne micro-organisms in the pipe work, copper/silver ionisation will also control biofilm on the pipe's inner surface. It is important to realise that biofilm, a sludge containing a biological cocktail, is lining the inside of the piping. The amount of biofilm present in the pipe work is largely dependant on the age of the plumbing. Obviously, the older the pipe work, the greater amount of biofilm will likely be present. Significant reductions in microbiological levels will not be evident until the ions have fully invaded and decayed this biofilm.

Installations into existing pipe work normally take somewhere between 45 and 90 days for this to occur. It should also be noted that although the ions will erode the biofilm, they have no detrimental effect on the pipe work itself. As the ion levels build up in the water throughout the circuit, the copper and silver will afford biological protection in the pipe work downstream of the unit, including areas of low circulation and distal points. Even dead legs are protected; up to 3 metres in length, depending on pipe sizing.

Corrosion

In addition to providing biocidal activity and removal of any biofilm present in the pipes, the pipe work is also better protected from corrosion. Water lacking ions, such as distilled water (no ions at all), becomes very aggressive as it tries to leach out impurities from any material it comes into contact with. This is because it tries to return to a more "natural" state. Distilled water is not occurring naturally and will try to dissolve minerals to reach a saturated state, which is more desirable for the water from an energetic point of view. Copper/Silver Ionisation by definition release ions into the water, which means that the water will be more saturated after being exposed to the mineral anodes. Hence, it will be less aggressive to the pipe work and will help reduce corrosion significantly.